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ARCHIVES 


STATE  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 


FIRST   SERIES. 
Vol.    VI. 


This  volume  was  compiled  and  edited  by  authority 
of  the  State  of  New  Jersey;  at  the  request  of  the 
New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  following  committee  : 

NATHANIEL  NILES,  Ch'n, 
MARCUS  L.  WARD, 
JOEL  PARKER, 
W.  A.  WHITEHEAD. 


DOCUMENTS 


RELATING   TO  THK 


COLONIAL   HISTORY 


OF  THE 


STATE  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 


EDITED   BY 


WILLIAM  A.  WHITEHEAD, 

Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society;  Author  of 
East  Jersey  Under  the  Proprietary  Governments;  Contributions 
to  the  Early  History  of  Perth  Amboy  and  the  Surround- 
ing Country ;  Editor  of  the  Papers  of  Lewis  Mor- 
ris, and  of  an  Analytical  Index  to  the 
Colonial  Documents  of  New 
Jersey,    etc.,    etc. 


VOLUME     VI. 

ADMINISTRATIONS  OF  GOVERNOR   LEWIS   MORRIS,    PRESIDENT 
JOHN   HAMILTON   AND   PRESIDENT  JOHN    READING. 


1738-1747.        „* 

f<^ 


NEWARK,  N.  J.  : 

DAILY   ADVEETI8ER  FEINTING   HOUSE, 


F 


u 


SOURCES 

WHENCE  THE  DOCUMENTS  IN  THIS  VOLUME  WERE  OBTAINED. 


Public  Record  Office,  London,  England. 

Manuscripts  of  the  Neiu  Jersey  Historical  Society. 

Rutherfurd  Collection  of  Manuscripts. 

New  York  Colonial  Documents  in  Secretary  of  State's  Office, 

Albany. 

Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery. 
New  Jersey  Secretary  of  State's  Office,  Trenton. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

1738— Jan.  25.— Letter  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle— enclosing  the  Commission  of  Lewis  Mor- 
ris, as  Governor  of  New  Jersey 2 

"  April  14. — Letter  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  King — 
enclosing  instructions  for  Lewis  Morris,  as  Governor 

of  New  Jersey 13 

"  June  21.— Letter  from  William  Wood  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 
— relative  to  the  issuing  of  paper  money  in  the  Plan- 
tations   51 

— . — A  proposal  for  the  extending  and  enlarging  the  trade 
and  navigation  of  Great  Britain,  etc.,  by  William 

Wood 52 

"  Sept.  11. — Letters  from  Governor  Ijewis  Morris  to  the  Lords 
of  Trade  and  the  Duke  of  Newcastle — acknowledg- 
ing the  receipt  of  his  Commission,  etc 56 

"       — . — Address  to  the  King  from  the  C'ouncil  and  General 

Assembly  of  New  Jersey — thanking  him  for  giving 

.  the  Province  a  separate  Governor  from  New  York.. .     58 

1739— May     10. — Letter  from  Governor  Morris  to  Sir  Charles  Wager, 

First  Lord  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury — relating 

to  the  affairs  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York 60 

"  80. — Letter  from  ex-Governor  Hamilton  to  the  Lords  of 
Trade — complaining  of  certain  proceedings  of  Gov- 
ernor Morris 69 

"  June  4. — Letter  from  James  Alexander  to  Peter  Collinson — 
relating  to  his  difficulties  with  Governor  Cosby  and 

President  Clarke,  of  New  York 71 

"         4. — Letter  from    James  Alexander  to    Mr.   Rodrigo 

Pacheco— enclosing  the  foregoing  letter 77 

1740— March  27.— Reports  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  House  of 

Lords — relating  to  the  currency  in  America 78 


Xll  CONTENTS. 


1740  —  March  27.  —  State  of  the  paper  currency  in  the  British  Planta- 

tions ...........................................    82 

"       April    29.  —  Report  of  Robert  Dinwiddie  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 

—  on  the  value  and  trade  of  the  British  Empire  in 
America  .......................................     83 

"          "       30.  —  Arguments  of  Richard  Partridge  —  relating  to  the 

currency  in  America  _____  ........................     91 

"  July  9.  —  Report  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  from  the  Committee 
of  Council  —  with  draft  of  an  additional  instruction  to 
the  Governors  of  Plantations  in  America  ...........  94 

"  "  31.  —  Letter  from  Mr.  Carkesse,  Secretary  to  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Customs  —  relative  to  a  glass-house 
in  New  Jersey  ...........................  ________  98 

"  Aug.  31.  —  Letter  from  Governor  Lewis  Morris  to  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle  —  about  the  raising  of  troops  in  New 
Jersey  .......  .  ........  ____________  ......  ____  .....  99 

"  Oct.  18.  —  Letter  from  Governor  Lewis  Morris  to  the  Duke 

of  Newcastle  —  upon  New  Jersey  affairs  ........  ____  100 

"  "  29.  —  Communication  from  Captain  Thomlinson  to  Sec- 
retary Thomas  Hill,  of  the  Board  of  Trade  —  enclos- 
ing a  scheme  for  putting  the  paper  money  in  America 
upon  a  better  footing  ____  ..............  ..  ......  .  Ill 

1741  —  Jan.       3.  —  Proclamation  of  Governor  Morris,  relating  to  the 

currency  of  Foreign  Coins  in  the  Plantations  ......  117 

"  •'  21.  —  Report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  House  of  Com- 

mons —  relative  to  bills  of  credit  in  the  Plantations..  122 
"  April  23.  —  Order  in  Council  appointing  Archibald  Home,  one 

of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey  ____  ..................  127 

"  Aug.  13.  —  Communication  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the 

Lords  Justices  —  relative  to  ensigns  to  be  borne  by 

ships  havir.  g  private  commissions  ----------  .......  128 

"  "  16.  —  Letter  from  Governor  Morris  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 

—  about  New  Jersey  affairs  ____  ...........  .,  .......  180 

"       Sept.      2.  —  Memorial  of  the  Committees  of  the  Proprietors  of 

East  and  West  Jersey  to  Governor  Morris  —  relating 
to  the  line  between  New  York  and  New  Jersey  ......  138 

"  Nov.  4.  —  Representation  of  the  Council  and  General  Assem- 
bly of  New  Jersey  to  Governor  Morris  —  relative  to 
encouragement  desired  for  the  making  of  Iron  in  the 
Province  _____  .........  .................  --------  .  140 

1742  —  June    16.  —  Memorial  of  Rodrigo  Pacheco  and  Richard  Par- 

tridge, in  behalf  of  the  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey  to 
the  Lords  of  Trade  —  asking  for  the  confirmation  of 
an  act  for  regulating  the  purchasing  of  lands  from 
the  Indians.  ..  __________  142 


CONTENTS. 


xin 


PAGE. 


1742 — June  38. — Address  of  the  Eastern  Council  of  Proprietors  to 
Governor  Lewis  Morris — relative  to  the  partition  line 

between  New  York  and  New  Jersey 144 

1748 — Jan.  25.—  Affidavit  of  James  Alexander — relative  to  the  posi- 
tion of  the  North  partition  point  between  New  Jersey 
and  New  York 146 

"  March  8. — Letter  from  Secretary  Hill  to  Francis  Fane — rela- 
tive to  two  acts  of  the  New  Jersey  Assembly 150 

"  June  9. — Letter  from  John  Hamilton  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 
— relative  to  the  claim  of  Lewis  Morris  for  salary, 
while  striving  to  obtain  the  Presidency  of  New  Jer- 
sey    151 

"  Aug.  23. — Letter  from  Samuel  Gillibrand,  Deputy  Secretary 
of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  John  Hamilton — in  answer 
to  the  foregoing  letter 158 

"  "  — . — Instructions  from  John  Hamilton  and  Andrew 
Johnston  to  John  Lawrence  for  running  the  parti- 
tion line  between  East  and  West  Jersey 154 

"       Oct.     22. — Letter  from  Governor  Lewis  Morris  of  New  Jersey 

to  Governor  George  Clinton  of  New  York 162 

"  "  — . — Petition  of  Abraham  Vanaken  and  Juriam  West- 
phale  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  New  Jersey — 
relating  to  disturbances  on  the  Northern  boundary  of 
the  Province 

"  NOT.  15.— Report  of  Chief  Justice  Robert  H.  Morris  to  the 
Board  of  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey — concerning  the 

Northern  boundary.. 168 

1744 — May  15. — Letter  from  John  Hamilton  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 
acknowledging  letter  of  Secretary  Gillibrand  of 
August  28,  1748 172 

"  "  21.— Postscript  to  the  New  York  Weekly  Post-Boy— 
containing  particulars  of  the  excommunication  of  a 
Chief  Justice  in  Pennsylvania 178 

"      June    28. — Speeches  of  Governor  Lewis  Morris  to  the  General 
to  Assembly,  with  the  Assembly's  address,  and  Abstract 

"       July    3    of  the  proceedings  on  the  Militia  Bill ...  178 

"  Aug.  21. — Order  in  Council  referring  to  the  consideration  of 
the  Lords  of  Trade,  a  petition  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Elizabct  ht own.  praying  that  the  King  would  hear 
and  determine  their  controversy  with'  the  Proprietors  205 

"  Sept,  7. — Memorial  of  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors  to  Gov- 
ernor Morris — asking  for  the  passage  of  an  Act  for 
running  the  dividing  line  from  New  York  export*  216 
1745 — Jan.  — Representation  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey  to 
Governor  Morris — containing  reasons  for  rejecting 
certain  Acts,  etc..  .  219 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 
1745 — Feb.        1. — Letter  from  Governor  Morris  to  the  Lords  of  Trade 

— recommendations  for  the  Council 232 

'•         "       28. — Certificate  of   Governor   Morris — concerning   the 

Proprietors'  Surrender^of  the  Government -  234 

"  •  June  19. — Communication  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the 
Lords  Justices,  confirming  Governor  Morris'  recom- 
mendations for  the  Council  of  February  1 237 

"  "  20. — Communication  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the 
Lords  Justices — making  further  recommendations  for 
the  Council  of  New  Jersey 237 

'*  Aug.  15. — Representation  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the 
Lords  Justices — proposing  the  repeal  of  the  Act 
regulating  fees 238 

"        —       — . — Population  in  New  Jersey  in  1737-38  and  in  1745. .  242 

"       Nov.        — Lists  of  Rioters  in  Essex  County 245 

"       Oct.     3-18. — Minutes  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  New 

Jersey. _____ 246 

1746         —    — . — "A  Brief  Vindication  of  the  Purchasers  against 

the  Proprietors,  in  a  Christian  Manner  " _  _  266 

"       Feb.     — .Communication  of  the  Rioters  to  the  New  York  Post 

Boy — about  the  Riot  at  Newark 292 

"  March  25. — A  publication  of  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors — re- 
lating to  the  Riots. 297 

"  April  26. — Speech  of  Samuel  Nevill  in  the  House  of  Assembly 
on  the  petition  of  inhabitants  of  the  Northern  part  of 
the  Province ___ 323 

' '         —      — . — Petition  to  the  House  of  Assembly  by  certain  of  the 

Rioters 348 

"       May     — . — List  of  Rioters  in  Essex  county. 351 

"  "  11. — Commission  to  Robert  H.  Morris,  Lewis  Johnston 
and  Elisha  Parker  to  run  the  line  between  East  and 
West  Jersey 352 

"       June  4,18,  19. — Minutes  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey 367 

"  "  30. — Letter  from  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors — to  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  subscribers  to  a  proposal  sent  to  the 
Governor _ 353 

"  Aug.  7. — Order  in  Council  upon  a  petition  of  Richard  Par- 
tridge, Agent  for  New  Jersey — requesting  that  the 
King  shall  authorize  the  Governor  to  approve  the 
bill  providing  for  the  issue  of  £40,000  in  Bills  of 
Credit 861 

"  "  11. — Notice  of  Nathaniel  Wheeler  and  others  to  the 
Proprietors  of  East  Jersey — stating  their  willingness 
to  appear  in  Court,  etc.,  to  test  their  rights 365 


CONTENTS.  IV 

PAGE. 

1 74ft— Aug.  18.—  Proceedings  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey— relative 
to  the  raising  of  troops,  the  erection  of  a  Beacon  on 
the  Highlands  of  Neversink,  etc  871 

"  "  29.— Letter  from  Elisha  Parker,  Attorney  for  the  Pro- 
prietors of  East  Jersey,  to  the  Committee  making, 
the  proposals  under  date  of  August  11 392 

"     Sept.    27. — Minutes  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey — relative  to 

the  embarkation  of  troops,  etc 876 

"  Sept.  27. — Letter  from  President  John  Hamilton  to  the  Coun- 
cil of  New  York — relating  to  the.  destruction  by  fire 
of  the  Beacon  on  the  Highlands  of  Neversink 379 

"  Nov.  1. — Letter  from  Captain  Joseph  Espinoza  to  Governor 
Clinton,  of  New  York — complaining  of  his  imprison- 
ment at  Perth  Amboy,  on  alleged  infractions  of  the 
privileges  of  a  flag  of  truce 380 

"  —  — . — Petition  from  Captain  Joseph  Espinoza  to  Gov- 
ernor Clinton — connected  with  the  preceding  charges  381 

"  Dec.  23.— Affidavit  of  Elisha  Parker— relative  to  legal  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Committee  of  the  Rioters 895 

"  24. — State  of  the  facts  concerning  the  late  Riots  at  New- 
ark, and  in  other  parts  of  New  Jersey,  from  Sep- 
tember 19th,  1745 ...  897 

"  "  — . — Letter  from  James  Alexander  and  Robert  Hunter 
Morris,  of  the  New  Jersey  Council,  to  the  Lords  of 
Trade — giving  an  account  of  the  condition  of  the 

Province 419 

1747 — Feb.  17. — Letter  from  Ferdinand  John  Paris  to  James  Alex- 
ander—about Governor  Belcher's  delay  in  obtaining 
his  Commission 422 

"       March  19.— Proceedings  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey 424 

"       April    22. — Letter  from  David  Ogden  to  President  Hamilton 

transmitting  affidavits  respecting  the  Riots 426 

"  "  29.— Representation  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  King 
respecting  a  petition  of  Richard  Partridge  to  author- 
ize the  Governor  of  New  Jersey  to  issue  Bills  of 
Credit 488 

"  May  6  &  9. — Proceedings  of  the  Council  and  message  from 
President  Hamilton  to  the  House  of  Assembly  of 
New  Jersey,  with  their  answer 435 

"  May  6. — Letter  from  Governor  Clinton,  of  New  York,  to 
Colonel  Schuyler  of  the  New  Jersey  forces— about 
the  paying  of  his  troops 441 

"  "  9. — Order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council 
upon  a  petition  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  appointed  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Jersey— relative  to  his  salary 443 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

1747— May  10.— Letter  from  James  Alexander  and  Robert  H.  Mor- 
ris, of  New  Jersey,  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  written  at 
the  request  of  President  Hamilton r 446 

"         "       11.— Letter  from  President  Hamilton  to  Colonel  Peter 

Schuyler,  commanding  the  New  Jersey  forces 447 

"  "  19. — Order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council, 
referring  to  the  Lords  of  Trade,  a  petition  of  Jona- 
than Belcher,  appointed  Governor  of  New  Jersey — 
for  permission  to  be  absent  from  his  Government  for 
two  or  three  months,  to  visit  New  England 449 

"  "  23.— Letter  from  Governor  Clinton,  of  New  York,  to 
the  Duke  of  New  Castle— relating  to  the  payment  of 
troops 451 

"         "       28.— Report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  on  the  petition  of 

Jonathan  Belcher,  submitted  on  the  19th  of  May 453 

"  "  — . — List  of  Rioters  in  Somerset  and  Middlesex  Coun- 
ties, New  Jersey 455 

"  June  — . — Judge  Nevill's  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of  Mid- 
dlesex County,  about  the  Riots 456 

"  25. — Letter  from  John  Reading,  eldest  Councillor  of 
New  Jersey,  to  the  Lords  of  Trade — informing  them 
of  the  death  of  President  Hamilton,  and  that  he  had 
assumed  the  Government 462 

"       July    18. — Letter  from  John  Deare  to  Chief  Justice  Morris, 

informing  him  of  the  Riot  at  Perth  Amboy 463 

"         "       20. — Affidavits  relating  to  the  Riot  at   Perth  Amboy, 

July  17th 465 

"       28. — Letter  from  Chief  Justice  Robert  Hunter  Morris  to 

James  Alexander — about  New  Jersey  affairs 471 


NEW    JERSEY 

COLONIAL  DOCUMENTS. 


From  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  King,  with  Draft  of 
a  Commission  for  Lewis  Morris  as  Governor  of 
New  Jersey. 

[From  P.  B.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  XIV,  p.  400.  | 

To  THE  KING'S  MOST  EXCELLT  MAJV 
May  it  please  your  Majesty. 

In  Obedience  to  Your  Majesty's  Commands  signi- 
fied to  Us  by  a  Letter  from  his  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle  dated  the  13'.h  Instant,  We  have  prepared 
the  Draught  of  a  Commission  for  Lewis  Moms  Sen' 
Esqr  to  be  Your  Majesty's  Governor  of  New  Jersey  in 
America,  Which  being  in  the  usual  Form,  We  here- 
with humbly  lay  the  same  before  your  Majesty,  and 
shall  prepare  the  necessary  Instructions  for  him  with 
all  possible  Dispatch. 

Which  is  most  humbly  submitted 

MONSUX 
T  PELHAM 
EDWP  ASHE 
R.  PLUMER 
Whitehall  25.  Jan'ry  1737-8  M.  BLADEN 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 


Draught  of  Commission  of  Lewis  Morris  Sen? 
r  to  be  Gov?  of  New  Jersey. 


GEORGE  the  second  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  Great 
Britain  France  and  Ireland  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith  &c.  To  Our  Trusty  and  Wellbelov'd  Lewis  Mor- 
ris Senior  Esqr  Greeting.  -Whereas  We  did  by  Our 
Letters  Patents  under  Our  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain 
bearing  Date  at  Westminster  the  day  of 

1737  in  the  Eleventh  Year  of  Our  Reign  constitute  and 
appoint  Our  Right  Trusty  and  welbeloved  John  Lord 
Delawarr,  Cap*  General  &  Governor  in  chief  in  and 
over  Our  Province  of  Nova  Ceesarea  or  new  Jersey 
viz*  The  Division  of  East  &  West  New  Jersey  in 
America  for  and  during  Our  Will  and  Pleasure,  as  by 
the  said  recited  Letters  Patents,  relation  being  there- 
unto had,  may  more  fully  and  at  large  appear:  Now 
know  you  that  We  have  revok'd  and  determin'd  and 
by  these  Presents  do  revoke  and  determine  the  said 
recited  Letters  Patents  &  every  Clause  Article  and 
thing  therein  contain'd,  And  further  know  You  that 
we  reposing  especial  Trust  and  confidence,  in  the 
Prudence  Courage  and  Loyalty  of  you  the  said  Lewis 
Morris,  of  Our  especial  Grace  certain  knowledge  and 
meer  Motion  have  thought  fit  to  constitute  and  appoint 
&  by  these  presents  do  constitute  &  appoint  you  the 
said  Lewis  Morris  to  be  our  Captain  Gen.1  &  Governor 
in  chief  in  and  over  Our  Province  of  Nova  Caesarea  or 
New  Jersey  viz*  the  Division  of  East  &  West  New 
Jersey  in  America,  which  we  have  thought  fitt  to 
re-  unite  into  One  Province  and  settle  under  one  entire 
Government. 

And  we  do  hereby  require  and  command  you  to  do 
and  execute  all  things  in  due  manner  that  shall  belong 
unto  your  said  Command  and  the  Trust  We  have 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  StOKKIS. 

reposed  in  you,  according  to  the  several  powers  and 
Directions  granted  or  appointed  you  by  this  Present 
Commission  and  the  Instructions  and  authorities 
herewith  given  you,  or  by  such  further  Powers 
Instructions  and  Authorities  as  shall  at  any  time  here- 
after be  granted  or  appointed  you  under  our  Signet 
and  sign  Manual  or  by  Our  Order  in  our  Privy  Coun- 
cil and  according  to  such  reasonable  Laws  and  Stat- 
utes as  now  are  in  force  or  hereafter  shall  be  made 
and  agreed  upon  by  you  with  the  Advice  and  consent 
of  Our  Council  &  the  Assembly  of  Our  said  Province 
under  your  Government  in  such  Manner  and  Form  as 
is  hereafter  expressed. 

And  OUR  WILL  &  PLEASURE  is.  that  you  the  said 
Lewis  Moms,  after  the  Publication  of  these  Our  Let- 
ters Patents,  do  in  the  first  Place  take  the  Oaths 
appointed  to  be  taken  by  an  Act  passed  in  the  First 
Year  of  Our  late  Royall  Father's  Reign  En  til?  An  Act 
for  the  further  Security  of  His  Majesty's  Person  and 
Government,  and  the  Succession  of  the  Crown  in  tlie 
Heirs  of  the  late  Princess  tiophia  being  Protestants, 
And  for  Extinguishing  the  Hopes  of  the  Pretended 
Prince  of  Wales  &  his  open  and  secret  Abettors:  As 
also  that  you  make  and  subscribe  the  Declaration  men- 
tion'd  in  the  Act  of  Parliament  made  in  the  251!'  Year 
of  the  Reign  of  King  Charles  the  Second  Entituled  an 
Act  for  preventing  Dangers  which  mat/  happen  from 
Popish  Recusants  and  likewise  that  you  take  the 
usual  Oath  for  the  due  Execution  of  the  Office  and 
Trust  of  Our  Captain  Gen!  &  Governor  in  chief  in  and 
over  our  said  Province  of  Nova  Caesarea  or  New  Jer- 
sey as  well  with  regard  to  the  due  and  impartial 
Administration  of  Justice  as  otherwise,  and  further 
that  you  take  the  Oath  required  to  be  taken  by  Gov- 
ernors of  Plantations  to  do  their  utmost  that  the  sev- 
eral Laws  relating  to  Trade  aud  the  Plantations  be 
observed  which  said  Oaths  and  Declaration  Our  Coun- 


4  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

cil  in  Our  said  Province  or  any  three  of  the  Members 
thereof,  have  hereby  full  Power  and  Authority  and 
are  required  to  tender  and  administer  unto  you,  and  in 
your  absence  to  Our  Lieut*  Governor  if  there  be  any 
upon  the  Place  all  which  being  duly  perform'd;  You 
shall  Administer  to  each  of  the  Members  of  Our  said 
Governor  to  Council  as  also  to  Our  Lieu^  Governor  if  there 

administer  the 

oaths  to  Dep-  be  any  upon  the  Place  the  Oaths  mentioned 
uty  Governor  in  the  said  Act  Entituled  An  Act  for  the 

[and]  Council- 

lors further  Security   of   his  Majesty's  Person 

and  Government  and  the  Succession  of  the  Crown  in 
the  Heirs  of  the  late  Princess  Sophia  being  Protestants 
&  for  extinguishing  the  hopes  of  the  Pretended  Prince 
of  Wales  and  his  open  and  Secret  Abettors.  As  Also 
to  cause  them  to  make  &  Subscribe  the  aforemen- 
tioned Declaration  and  to  Administer  to  them  the  Oath 
for  the  due  Execution  of  their  Places  &  Trusts 


TO   supreme      ^nd  We  <jo  hereby  give  and  grant  unto 

(suspend*]  J 

councillors  you  full  Power  and  Authority  to  Suspend 
any  of  the  Members  of  Our  said  Council,  from  sitting 
voting  and  Assisting  therein  if  you  shall  find  just 
cause  for  so  doing. 

TO  give  ac-  And  if  it  shall  at  any  time  happen  that  by 
count  of  va-  the  Death  departure  out  of  Our  said  Prov- 
"3  ince  or  Suspension  of  any  of  Our  said  Coun- 


to  be  cillors  or  otherwise  there  shall  be  a  Vacancy 
in  Our  said  Council  (any  three  whereof  We 
do  hereby  appoint  to  be  a  Quorum)  OUR  WILL  & 
PLEASURE  is  that  you  Signify  the  same  unto  Us  by 
the  first  Opportunity  that  We  may  under  Our  Signet 
and  Sign  Manual  constitute  and  appoint  others  in  their 
Stead. 
Trt  .  But  that  Our  Affairs  mav  not  suffer  at 

JL  o  mi  up   »  «**  ~ 

in  that  Distance  for  want  of  a  due  Number  of 


on  Councillors  if  ever  it  shall  happen  that  there 
the  island  to  shall  be  less  than  Seven  of  them  residing  in 
Our  said  Province;  We  do  hereby  give 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  5 

grant  unto  you  the  said  John  Montgomery'  full  Power 
and  Authority  to  chuse  as  many  Persons  out  of  the 
Principal  Freeholders  Inhabitants  thereof  as  will  make 
up  the  full  Number  of  Our  said  Council  to  be  Seven 
and  no  mure  which  Persons  so  chosen  &  appointed  by 
You  shall  be  to  all  Intents  and  Purposes  Councillors  in 
Our  said  Province  until  either  they  shall  be  confirm'd 
by  Us  or  that  by  the  Nomination  of  others  by  Us 
under  Our  Sign  Manual  and  Signet  Our  said  Council 
shall  have  Seven  or  more  Persons  in  it 
TO  caii  AS-  And  w«  do  hereby  give  &  grant  unto  You 
sembiie*  full  Power  and  Authority  with  the  Advice 
and  Consent  of  Our  said  Council  from  time  to  time  as 
need  shall  require  to  Summon  and  call  General  Assem- 
blies of  the  said  Freeholders  and  Planters  within  your 
Government  in  manner  and  form  as  shall  be  directed 
in  Our  Instructions  which  shall  be  given  You  together 
with  this  Our  Commission. 

AND  PLEASURE   IS  that  the 


Assembly  Men 

to  take  the  Persons  thereupon  duly  Elected  by  the  Major 
Part  of  the  Freeholders  of  the  respective 
Counties  and  places  and  so  returned  shall  before  their 
Sitting  take  the  Oaths  mentioned  in  the  said  Act 
Entituled  An  Act  for  the  further  Security  of  his 
Afajestys  Person  and  Government  and  the  Succession 
of  the  Crown.  in  the  Heirs  of  the  late  Princess  Sophia 
being  Protestants  And  for  Extinguishing  the  Hopes  of 
the  Pretended  Prince  of  Wales  and  his  Open  and 
Secret  Abettors.  As  also  make  and  Subscribe  the 
foremention'd  Declaration  which  Oaths  and  Declara- 
tion You  shall  Commissionate  fit  Persons  under  Our 
Seal  of  Nova  Caesarea  or  New  Jersey  to  tender  and 
Administer  unto  them  and  until  the  same  shall  be  so 
taken  and  Subscribed  no  person  shall  be  capable  of 


1  The  Commission  to  Oovernor  Montgomerie  being  taken  for  the  model  of  the 
present  one,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  his  name  was  inadvertently  used  eleven  times, 
as  it  is,  in  the  Public  Records  instead  of  that  of  Governor  Morris.— Eo. 


6  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

Kitting  tlio*  Elected  And  We  do  hereby  declare  that 
the  Persons  so  Elected  and  qualified  shall  be  called  and 
deemed  the  General  Assembly  of  that  Our  Province. 

And  You  the  said  John  Montgomery  with 

To  pass  Laws  * 

the  Consent  of  Our  said  Council  and  Assem- 
bly or  a  Major  Part  of  them  respectively  shall  have 
full  Power  and  Authority  to  make  constitute  and 
ordain  Laws  Statutes  and  Ordinances  for  the  Publick 
Peace  Welfare  and  Good  Government  of  Our  said 
Province  and  of  the  People  and  Inhabitants  thereof 
and  such  others  as  shall  resort  thereto  and  for  the 
Benefit  of  Us  Our  Heirs  and  Successors  which  said 
Laws  Statutes  &  Ordinances  are  not  to  be  repugnant 
but  as  near  as  may  be  agreable  to  the  Laws  and 
Statutes  of  this  Our  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  Pro- 
vided that  all  such  Laws,  Statutes  and  Ordinances  of 
t  what  Nature  or  duration  soever  be  within 

Acts  to  be  sent 

home  for  Ap-  three  Months  or  sooner  after  the  making 
probation  thereof  transmitted  unto  Us  under  Our  Seal 
of  Nova  Caesaria  or  New -Jersey  for  Our  Approbation 
or  disallowance  of  the  same,  As  also  Duplicates  thereof 
by  the  next  Conveyance. 

Repealed  ^nc*  m  Case  any  or  all  of  the  said  Laws, 
Laws  to  be  Statutes  and  Ordinances  (being  not  before 
confirm'd  by  Us)  shall  at  any  time  be  disal- 
lowed and  not  approved  and  so  Signify'd  by  Us  Our 
Heirs  and  Successors  under  Our  or  their  Privy  Council 
unto  you  the  said  John  Montgomery  or  to  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  Our  said  Province  for  the  time 
being  then  such  and  so  many  of  the  said  Laws  Stat- 
utes and  Ordinances  as  shall  be  so  disallowed  &  not 
approved  shall  from  thenceforth  cease  determine  and 
become  utterly  void  and  of  none  Effect  anything  to 
the  contrary  thereof  notwithstanding. 
Governor  to  And  to  the  end  that  nothing  may  be 
passed  or  done  by  Our  said  Council  or 
Assembly  to  the  Piejudice  of  Us  Our  Heirs 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  ? 

&  Successors  We  will  and  Ordain  that  You  the  said 
John  Montgomery  shall  have  and  enjoy  a  Negative 
Voice  in  the  making  and  passing  of  all  Laws  Statutes 
&  Ordinances  as  aforesaid. 

And  you  shall  and  may  likewise  from  time 

Power  to  ad- 
journ &c  A»-  to  time  as  you  shall  Judge  it    necessary 

adjourn  prorogue  and  dissolve  all  General 
Assemblys  as  aforesaid 

Our  further  Will  and  Pleasure  is  that  you  shall  and 
TO  use  the  mav  use  anc^  nee(^  the  publick  Seal  of  Our 
pubitck  seal  Province  of  Nova  Caesaria  or  New-Jersey 
for  Sealing  all  things  whatsoever  that,  pass  the  Great 
Seal  of  Our  said  Province  under  Your  Government. 
TO  Administer  We  do  further  give  and  grant  unto  you 
a^pe^ns  he"  the  ^i^  John  Montgomery  full  Power  and 
Rhaii  think  at  Authority  from  time  to  time  and  at  any 
time  hereafter  by  your  Self  or  by  any  other  to  be 
Authorized  by  you  in  that  behalf  to  Administer  and 
give  the  aforemention'd  Oaths  to  all  and  every  such 
Person  or  Persons  as  you  shall  think  fit  who  shall  at 
any  time  or  times  pass  into  Our  said  Province  or  shall 
be  resident  or  abiding  there 

„.„*  ui,  u      And  we  do  further  bv  these  Presents  give 

To    Establish  *  " 

courts  of  ju-  and  grant  unto  you  the  said  John  Mont- 
gomery full  Power  &  Authority  with  the 
Advice  and  Consent  of  Our  said  Council  to  erect  con- 
stitute and  establish  such  and  so  many  Courts  of  Judi- 
cature and  Publick  Justice  within  Our  said  Province 
under  your  Government  as  you  and  they  shall  think 
fit  and  necessary  for  the  hearing  and  determining  of 
all  Causes  as  well  Criminal  as  Civil  according  to  Law 
and  Equity  and  for  awarding  of  Execution  thereupon 
with  all  reasonable  &  necessary  Powers  Authorities, 
Fees  and  Privileges  belonging  thereto  As  also  to 
appoint  and  Commissionate  fit  Persons  in  the  several 
parts  of  your  Government  to  Administer  the  Oaths 
mentioned  in  the  aforesaid  Act  Entituled  An  Act  for 
the  further  Security  of  his  Majestys  Person  and  Oov- 


H  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

eminent  and  the  Succession  of  the  Crown  in  the  Heirs 
of  the  Princess  Sophia  being  Protestants  and  for 
Extinguishing  the  hopes  of  the  pretended  Prince  of 
Wales  and  his  Open  and  Secret  Abettors  As  also  to 
tender  and  Administer  the  aforesaid  Declaration  unto 
such  Persons  belonging  to  the  said  Courts  as  shall  he 
obliged  to  take  the  same. 

And  We  do  hereby  Authorize  and  Im- 
ju»   power  You  to  constitute  and  appoint  Judges 


tices  of  Peace  (an(j  ni  Qases  requisite)  Com  miss"  of  Over 
and  Terminer  Justices  of  the  Peace  and 
other  necessary  Officers  and  Ministers  in  Our  said 
Province  for  the  better  Administration  of  Justice  and 
putting  the  Laws  in  Execution  and  to  Administer  or 
cause  to  be  Administred  unto  them  such  Oath  or  Oaths 
as  are  usually  given  for  the  due  Execution  and  per- 
formance of  Offices  and  Places  and  for  the  clearing  of 
Truth  in  Judicial  Causes 

May  pardon  And  We  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto 
or  Reprieve  you  full  Power  and  Authority  where  you 
shall  see  Cause  or  shall  Judge  any  Offender  or  Offend- 
ers in  Criminal  Matters  or  for  any  Fines  or  Forfeitures 
due  unto  Us  fit  Objects  of  Our  Mercy  to  pardon  all 
such  Offenders  and  to  remit  all  such  Offences  Fines 
and  Forfeitures,  Treason  and  Willful  Murder  alone 
excepted  in  which  Cases  you  shall  likewise  have  Power 
upon  extraordinary  Occasions  to  grant  Reprieves  to 
the  Offenders  until  and  to  the  Intent  Our  Royal  Pleas- 
ure may  be  known  therein, 

We  do  by  these  Presents  Authorize  and 

To      Collate  •* 

Parsons    to  Impower  you  to  Collate  any  Person  or  Per- 
sons   to    any   Churches  Chappels  or  other 
Ecclesiastical  Benefices  within  Our  said  Province  as 
any  of  them  shall  happen  to  be  void. 

TO   Arm    &      ^^  ^e  ^°  hereby  giye  and  grant  unto 

Muster  the  in-  you  the  said  John  Montgomery  by  your  Self 

or  by  your  Cap?  &  Commanders  by  you  to 

be  Authorized  full  Power  and  Authority  to  Levy  Arm 


1738 j     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  # 

Muster  Command  and  Employ  all  persons  whatsoever 
residing  within  Our  said  Province  of  Nova  Caesaria  or 
New  Jersey  under  your  Government  and  as  Occasion 
shall  serve  to  March  from  one  Place  to  another  or  to 
embark  them  for  the  resisting  and  withstanding  of  all 
Enemies  Pirates  Rehels  both  at  Sea  and  Land  and  to 
Transport  such  Forces  to  any  of  Our  Plantations  in 
America  (if  necessity  shall  require  for  the  Defence  of 
the  same  against  the  Invasion  or  Attempts  of  any  of 
Our  Enemies  and  such  Enemies  Pirates  and  Rebels,  if 
TopursueEue-  there  shall  be  Occasion  to  pursue  &  prose- 
mie8        cute  in  or  out  of  the  Limits  of  Our  said 
Province  and  Plantations  or  any  of  them  and  if  it  shall 
so  please  God  them  to  vanquish  apprehend  and  take 
and  being  taken  either  according  to  Law  to   put  to 
Death  or  keep  and  preserve  alive  at  your  Discretion 
and  to  Execute  Martial  Law  in  time  of  Invasion  or 
other  times  when  by  Law  it  may  be  Executed  and  to 
and   Execute  ^°  an(^  Execute  all  and  every  other  thing 
Martial  Law     an(j  things  which  to  Our  Cap'  General  and 
Gov".  in  Chief  doth  or  ought  of  Right  to  belong. 
TO  Buiid  can-      ^I1(^  We  do  hereby  give  and  grant  unto 
ties.     Form,  you  full  power  and  Authority  by  and  with 
the  Advice  and  Consent  of  Our  said  Council 
to  erect  raise  and  build  in  Our  said  Province  of  Nova 
Caesaria  or  New  Jersey  such  and  so  many  Forts  and 
Plat  Forms  Castles  Cities  Boroughs  Towns  and  Forti- 
fications as  you  by  the  Advice  aforesaid  shall  Judge 
necessary,  and  the  same  or  any  of  them  to  Fortyfy 
and  Furnish  with  Ordnance  Ammunition  and  all  Sorts 
of  Armes  fit  and  necessary  for  the  Security  and  De- 
fence of  Our  said  Province  and  by  the  Advice  aforesaid 
the  same  again  or  any  of  them  to  Demolish  or  Dis- 
mantle as  may  be  most  Convenient. 
TO     appoint      And  forasmuch  as  divers   Mutinies  and 
cap...  and     Disorders  may  happen  by  Persons  Shipped 
for^s^MSe™  and   Employ'd  at  Sea  during  the  time  of 
vice  War  and  to  the  end  that  such  as  shall  be 


10  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

Shipped  or  Imploy'd  at  Sea  during  the  time  of  War 
may  be  better  Governed  and  Order'd  We  do  hereby 
give  and  grant  unto  you  the  said  John  Montgomery 
full  Power  and  Authority  to  constitute  and  appoint 
Cap1.8  Lieu*'  Masters  of  Ships  and  other  Commanders 
and  Officers  Commissions  to  Execute  the  Law  Martial 
according  to  the  Directions  of  An  Act  pass'd  in  the 
13th  Year  of  the  Reign  of  King  Charles  the  Second 
Entituled  An  Act  for  the  Establishing  Articles  and 
Orders  for  the  Eegulating  &  better  Government  of  his 
Majesties  Navies  Ships  of  War  and  Forces  by  Sea 
during  the  time  of  War  &c.  to  use  such  proceedings 
Authorities  Punishments  Corrections  and  Executions 
upon  any  Offender  or  Offenders  who  shall  be  Mutinous 
Seditious  Disorderly  or  any  way  unruly  either  at  Sea 
or  during  the  time  of  their  Abode  or  Eesidence  in  any 
of  the  Ports  Harbours  or  Bays  of  Our  said  Province  as 
the  Cause  shall  be  found  to  require  according  to  Mar- 
tial Law  and  the  said  Directions  during  the  time  of 
War  as  aforesaid. 

Provided  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be  con- 
Not  to  take  strued  to  the  enabling  You  or  any  by  your 
cognizance  of  Authority  to  hold  Plea  or  have  any  Juris- 
by7*  'persons  diction  of  any  Offence  Cause  Matter  or 
Employed  in  Thing  committed  or  done  upon  the  High 

Ships  of  War 

on  the  High  Sea  or  without  or  the  Havens  Elvers  or 
Seas-  Creeks  of  Our  said  Province  under  your 

Government  by  any  Cap*  Commander  Lieu*  Master 
Officer  Seaman  Soldeer  or  other  Person  whatsoever 
who  shall  be  in  Actual  Service  and  pay  in  or  on  Board 
any  of  Our  Ships  of  War  or  other  Vessels  acting  by 
Immediate  Commission  or  Warrant  from  Our  Com- 
missr-8  for  Executing  the  Office  of  Our  High  Admiral 
or  from  Our  High  Admiral  of  Great  Britain  for  the 
time  being  under  the  Seal  of  Our  Admiralty  But  that 
such  Cap*  Commander  Lieutenant  Master  Officer  Sea- 
man Soldier  or  other  Person  whatsoever  who  shall  be 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOBRIS.  11 

in  Actual  Service  and  pay  in  or  on  Board  any  of  Our 
Subjects  War  or  other  Vessels  acting  by  Immediate 
Commission  or  Warrant  from  Cur  Commiss"  for  Exe 
cuting  the  Office  of  Our  High  Admiral  or  from  Our 
High  Admiral  of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being 
under  the  Seal  of  Our  Admiralty  But  that  such  Cap? 
Commander  Lieu1  Master,  Officer,  Seaman  Soldier  or 
other  Pei-son  so  Offending  shall  be  left  to  be  proceeded 
against  and  try'd  as  their  Offences  shall  require  either 
by  Commission  under  Our  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain 
as  the  Statute  of  the  ^sth  of  Henry  the  Eighth  Directs 
or  by  Commission  from  Our  said  Commits"  for  Exe- 
cuting the  Office  of  Our  High  Admiral  of  Great  Britain 
for  the  time  being  according  to  the  aforementioned 
Act  for  the  Establishing  Articles  and  Orders  for  the 
regulating  and  better  Government  of  His  Majestys 
Navies  Ships  of  War  and  Forces  by  Sea  and  not  other- 
wise. 

But  what  is  Provided  Nevertheless  that  all  disorders 
done  on  shore  and  Misdeameanours  committed  on  Shore 
sons  he  may  by  any  Cap'  Commander  Lieu*  Master  Offi- 
cer Seaman  Soldier  or  other  Person  whatso- 
ever belonging  to  any  of  Our  Ships  of  War  or  other 
Vessels  acting  by  immediate  Commission  or  Warrant 
from  Our  said  Commiss"  for  Executing  the  Office  of 
Our  High  Admiral  or  from  Our  High  Admiral  of  Great 
Britain  for  the  time  being  under  the  Seal  of  Our  Admi- 
ralty may  be  tryed  and  punished  according  to  the 
Laws  of  the  Place  where  any  such  Disorders  Offences 
and  Misdemeanors  shall  be  committed  on  Shore  not- 
withstanding such  Offender  be  in  Our  Actual  Service 
and  Born  in  Our  Pay  on  Board  any  such  Our  Ships  of 
War  or  other  Vessels  Acting  by  Immediate  Commis- 
sion or  Warrant  from  Our  said  Commiss"1  for  Execu- 
ting the  Office  of  Our  High  Admiral  or  Our  High 
Admiral  of  Great  Britain  for  the  time  being  as  afore- 
said so  as  he  shall  not  receive  any  Protection  for  the 


12  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

Avoiding  of  Justice  for  such  Offences  committed  on 
Shore  from  any  pretence  of  his  being  Imployed  in  Our 
Service  at  Sea. 

Our  further  Will  and  Pleasure  is  that  all 
to"  be  issued  publick  Mony  raised  or  which  shall  be  raised 
by  oov'rs  by  any  Act  hereafter  to  be  made  within  our 
said  Province  be  issued  out  by  Warrant 
from  You  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  Our 
Council  and  disposed  of  by  You  for  the  Support  of  the 
Government  and  not  otherwise. 

TO  appoint  ^n(^  ^e  ^°  hereby  giye  You  the  said  John 
Fairs,  Marts,  Montgomery  full  Power  and  Authority  to 
order  and  appoint  Fairs,  Marts  and  Markets 
as  also  such  and  so  many  Ports,  Harbours  Bays 
Havens  and  other  Places  for  the  Convenience  and 
Security  of  Shipping  and  for  the  better  Loading  and 
unloading  of  Goods  and  Merchandise  as  by  you  with 
the  Advice  and  Consent  of  Our  said  Council  shall  be 
thought  fit  and  necessary. 

And  We  do  hereby  require  and  Command 
&c:tobeoibe^  all  Officers  and  Ministers  Civil  &  Military 
dient,  aiding  ail(j  a\\  other  Inhabitants  of  our  said  Prov- 

&c 

ince  to  be  obedient  aiding  and  assisting  unto 
You  the  said  John  Montgomery  in  the  Execution  of 
this  Our  Commission  and  of  the  Powers  and  Authori- 
ties herein  contained  And  in  case  of  your  Death  or 
Absence  out  of  Our  said  Province  to  be  obedient  aid- 
ing and  Assisting  unto  such  Person  as  shall  be 
appointed  by  Us  to  be  Our  Lieuf  Govf  or  Commander 
in  Chief  .of  Our  said  Province  to  whom  We  do  there- 
fore by  these  Presents  give  and  grant  all  and  Singular 
the  Powers  and  Authorities  herein  granted  to  be  by 
him  executed  and  enjoyed  during  Our  Pleasure  or 
until  your  Arrival  within  Our  said  Province. 

And  if  upon  your  Death  or  Absence  out  of 

President     of  .          ^       .  J         ,.  , 

the  council  to  Our  said  Province  there  be  no  Person  upon 


the  Place  Commissionated  or  Appointed  by 
Us  to  be  Our  Lieu'  Governor  or  Commander 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  13 

in  Chief  of  the  said  Province,  Our  Will  and  Pleasure 
is  that  the  Eldest  Councillor  whose  name  is  first  placed 
in  Our  said  Instructions  to  you  and  who  shall  be  at 
the  time  of  your  Death  or  Absence  residing  within  Our 
said  Province  of  New  Jersey  shall  take  upon  him  the 
Administration  of  the  Government  and  Execute  Our 
said  Commission  and  Instructions  and  the  several 
Powers  and  Authorities  therein  contained  in  the  same 
manner  and  to  all  Intents  &  Purposes  as  other  Our 
Governor  or  Commander  in  Chief  of  Our  said  Province 
should  or  ought  to  do  in  Case  of  Your  Absence  until 
you  return  or  in  all  Cases  until  Our  further  Pleasure 
be  known  therein 

TO  Execute  And  We  ^°  nereDV  Declare,  Ordain  and 
these  powers  Appoint  that  you  the  said  John  Montgomery 
Kki£f  Ple^e  shall  and  may  hold  execute  and  enjoy  the 
«"•*  Office  and  Place  of  Our  Cap*  General  and 

Governor  in  Chief  in  and  over  Our  Province  of  Nova 
Caesaria  or  New-Jersey  together  will  all  and  Singular 
the  Powers  and  Authorities  hereby  granted  unto  You 
for  and  during  Our  Will  and  Pleasure. 

IN  WITNESS  whereof  We  have  Caused  these  Our 
letters  to  be  made  Patents  Witness  Our  Self  at  West- 
minster the  Day  1737  In  the  first  Year  of  Our 
Reign 


From  the  Lords  of  Trade-  to  the  King  —with  a  draff 
of  the  Instructions  to  Lewis  Morris  o,s-  Gor- 
eruor  of  New  Jersey. 

IFrom  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jewey.  Vol.  XIV.  p.  408.] 

To  THE  KINGS  MOST  EXCELLT  MAJESTY 
May  it  please  your  Majesty 

In  Obedience  to  your  Maj'Y*  Commands  signified  to 
Us  by  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  One  of  your 


14  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1738 

Majesty's  Principal  Secretaries  of  State  in  his  Letter 
of  the  18*.h  Day  of  January  last,  We  have  prepared  the 
the  inclosed  Draught  of  general  Instructions,  arid  of 
those  which  relate  to  the  Acts  of  Trade  &  Navigation 
for  Lewis  Morris  Sen!"  Esq'  whom  your  Majesty  has 
been  pleased  to  appoint  Governor  &  Commander  in 
chief  of  New  Jersey  in  which  We  have  made  no  Alter- 
ations or  Omissions  from  the  Instructions  which  your 
Majesty  has  already  approved  to  your  other  Governors 
in  America,  and  to  your  Majestys  late  Governor  of 
New  York  &  New  Jersey  Col?  Cosby  except  in  the 
following  Articles. 

In  the  first  Article  We  have  inserted,  as  usual,  the 
Names  of  twelve  Councillors  viz^  John  Hamilton,  John 
Wells,  John  Reading  Cornelius  Van  Horn,  William 
Provost,  John  Schuyler,  Thomas  Farmer,  John  Rod 
man,  Richard  Smith,  Robert  Lettice  Hooper,  Robert 
Hunter  Morris,  and  Fen  wick  Lyell  Esqr.s  of  this  Num- 
ber, the  first  five  are  at  present  actually  in  the  Exer- 
cise of  that  Function,  the  remaining  seven  are  recom- 
mended to  Us,  as  Persons  well  qualified  to  serve  your 
Majesty  in  that  Station. 

At  the  same  time  we  take  Leave  to  inform  your 
Majesty  that  We  have  omitted  the  Name  of  James 
Alexander  who  stands  upon  the  old  List  of  Councillors, 
because  We  have  been  inform'd  he  is  a  Person  not 
proper  to  serve  in  that  Station,  and  represented  the 
same  to  your  Majesty  in  Our  Report  of  the  as1."  August 
1735. 

We  have  omitted  the  28'."  Article  for  laying  as  high 
Duties  on  all  goods  imported  in  or  exported  from  New 
Jersey  as  from  New  York,  it  being  contrary  to  the 
general  Tenor  of  your  Majesty's  Instructions  to  all 
your  other  Governors  in -America,  to  lay  any  Duties  on 
British  Goods  or  Shipping. 

We  have  omitted  the  Words  New  York  in  the  3P' 
Article,  relating  to  the  provision  for  the  Lieut'  Govr.  in 
the  Absence  of  the  Governor,  as  likewise  the  Proviso 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  15 

at  the  End  of  it,  which  relates  to  the  Governors  going 
into  Connecticut  to  regulate  the  Militia  When  both 
New  York  &  New  Jersey  were  under  One  Governor, 
this  might  be  necessary  but  not  at  present. 

We  have  omitted  the  57th  Article  relatiing  to  the 
Affirmation  of  Quakers  that  being  provided  for  by  an 
Act  pass'd  in  this  province  in  1 727-8 

We  have  likewise  omitted  the  91?*  Article  relating  to 
the  Tryal  of    Pyrates  Mr   Morris  not  being  as  yet 
appointed  a  Commissr  for  that  purpose. 
All  which  is  most  humbly  submitted 

MONSON 
M.  BLADEN 

Whitehall  April  the  141."  1738.         JA.  BRUDENELL 

R.  PLUMER 
R.  HERBERT. 

Instructions  to  our  Trusty  and  Welbeloved  Lewis 
Moms  Esq'  Our  Capt?  General  and  Governor  in  chief 
in  and  over  Our  Province  of  Nova  Caesarea  or  New 
Jersey  in  America  Given  at 

First  With  these  Our  Intructions  you  will  receive 
Our  Commiss"  under  Our  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain, 
constituting  you  Our  Capt"  General  &  Governor  in 
chief  in  &  over  Our  Province  of  New  Jersey,  You  are 
therefore  with  all  convenient  speed  to  repair  to  Our 
said  Province  and  being  then?  arrived  you  are  to  take 
upon  you  the  Execution  of  the  Place  and  Trust  We 
have  reposed  in  you  and  forthwith  to  call  together  the 
following  persons,  whom  We  do  by  these  Presents 
constitute  &  appoint  members  of  Our  Council  in  and 
for  that  Province  viz*  John  Hamilton  John  Wells,  John 
Reading,  Cornelius  Vau  Horn  William  Pro- 

Councillors 

vost,  John  Schuyler,  Thomas  Farmer  John 
Rodman,  Richard  Smith,  Robert  Lettice  Hooper, 
Robert  Hunter  Morris,  and  Fenwick  Lyell  Esq™  As 
also  John  Peagrum  Esq"  Surveyor  Gen!  of  Our  Cus- 
toms and  the  Surveyor  Gen)  of  Our  Customs  in  the 


16  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

Northern  District  of  Our  Dominions  in  America,  for 
the  time  being  shall  be  admitted  to  sit  and  vote  in  the 
Council  as  a  Councillor  Extraordinary. 

commission       ^y  ^-n(^  vou  are  w^h  all  due  Solemnity 

to  be  publish-  to  cause  Our  said  Commission  to  be  read 

and  published  at  the  said  Meeting  of  Our 

Council  which  being  done  you  shall  then  take,  and 

also  administer  to  each  of    the  Members  of  Our  said 

Council  the  Oaths  mention'd  in  an  Act  pass'd  in  the 

1  -1  Year  of  his  late  Majesty's  Our  Royal  Fathers  Reign 

Entituled  an  Act  for  the  further  Security  of 

Oath  taken 

his  Majesty's  Person  and  Government,  and 
Succession  of  the  Crown  in  the  Heirs  of  the  late  Prin- 
cess Sophia  being  Protestants  and  for  extinguishing 
the  Hopes  of  the  pretended  Prince  of  Wales  and  his 
open  and  secret  Abettors,  as  also  make  and  subscribe 
and  cause  the  Members  of  Our  said  Council  to  make 
and  subscribe  the  Declaration  mentioned  in  an  Act  of 
Parliament  made  in  the  25l.h  Year  of  the  Reign  of  King 
Charles  the  2?  entituled  An  Act  for  preventing  Dan- 
gers which  may  happen  from  Popish  Recusants  and 
you  and  every  of  them  are  likewise  to  take  an  Oath 
for  the  due  Execution  of  your  and  their  Places  & 
Trusts,  with  regard  to  your  and  their  equal  and  impar- 
tial Administration  of  Justice,  and  you  are  also  to  take 
the  Oath  required  to  be  taken  by  Governors  of  Planta- 
tions to  do  their  Utmost  that  the  Laws  relating  to  the 
Plantations  be  observed.  t 

ai*e  forthwith  to  communicate  unto 


what  instruc- 

«ons   to   be  Our  said  Council,  such  and  so  man    of  these 


Instructions,   wherein  their  Advice  & 
council.      Consent  are  required,  as  likewise  all  such 
others  from  time  to  ttme  as  you  shall  find  convenient 
for  Our  Service  to  be  imparted  to  them. 
Freedom     of      ^  ^ou  are  ^°  Pei>m^  the  Members  of  Our 
Debate  in     said  Council  to  have  and  enjoy  Freedom  of 
council      debate  and  yote  in   aU   Affairs  of  publick 

Concern  that  may  be  debated  in  Council. 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  17 

5  And  altho'  by  our  Commiss"  aforesaid  We  have 
thought  fit  to  direct  that  any  three  of  Our  Councillors 

make  a  Quorum  it  is  never-theless  Our  Will 

Quorum 

A:  Pleasure  that  you  do  not  act  with  a 
Quorum  of  less  than  five  Members,  unless  upon  Extra- 
ordinary Emergencies,  when  a  greater  Number  cannot 
be  conveniently  had. 

6  And  that  We  may  be  always  informed  of  the 
Names  and  Characters  of  Persons  fit  to  supply  the 
Vacancies  that  shall  happen  in  Our  said  Council  you 
are  to  transmit  unto  Us  by  one  of  Our  principal  Secre- 
taries of  State  and,  to  Our  Com™  for  Trade  &  Planta- 
tions with  all  convenient  speed,  the  Names  &  Charac- 
ters of  six  Persons  Inhabitants  of  the  Eastern  Division, 

anc*  s*x  °*ner  persons  inhabitants  of  the 
WesteiTi  Division  of  Our  said  Province, 
whom  you  shall  esteem  the  best  qualified 
for  that  Trust,  and  so  from  time  to  time,  when  any  of 
them  shall  dye,  depart  out  of  Our  said  Province,  be 
sworn  into  Our  said  Council  or  become  unfit,  you  are 
to  nominate  unto  Us  so  many  others  in  their  stead, 
that  a  List  of  twelve  Persons  fit  to  supply  the  said 
Vacancies  viz?  six  of  the  East  &  six  of  the  West  divi- 
sion as  aforesaid,  may  be  always  compleat. 

7  And  whereas  by  Our  Commission  you  are  impow- 
er'd  in  case  of  the  Death  or  Absence  of  any  of  Our 
Council  of  the  said  Province  to  fill  up  the  Vacancies  in 

Our  said  Council  to  the  number  of  Seven 

Vacancies    to 

be  suppiyed  and  no  more,  you  are  from  time  to  time  to 
send  to  Us  as  aforesaid,  and  to  Our  Coin- 
miss"  for  Trade  and  Plantations  the  Name  or  Names 
and  qualities  of  any  member  or  members,  by  you  put 
into  Our  said  Council  by  the  first  conveniency  after 
your  so  doing. 

8  And  in  the  choice  &  Nomination  of  the  Members 
Qualification    °^  ®ur  ^^  Council,  as  also  of  the  Chief 
or  omcers.      Officers,   Judges,    Assistants,   Justices   and 

3 


18  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [173.S 

Sheriffs,  you  are  always  to  take  care  that  they  be  men 
of  good  Life  and  well  affected  to  Our  Government,  of 
good  Estates  &  Abilities  &  not  necessitous  People. 

0  You  are  neither  to  augment  nor  diminish  the 
Number  of  Our  said  Council,  as  it  is  already  estab- 
suspension  of  lished,  nor  to  suspend  any  of  the  members 
councillors  thereof  without  Good  and  sufficient  Cause, 
nor  without  the  Consent  of  the  Majority  of  the  said 
Council,  and  in  case  of  Suspension  of  any  of  them, 
you  are  to  cause  your  Reasons  for  so  doing,  together 
with  the  Charges  and  proofs  ag8.'  the  said  Persons  and 
their  Answers  thereunto,  to  be  duely  entered  upon  the 
Council  Books,  and  forthwith  to  transmit  Copies 
thereof  to  Us  as  aforesaid,  and  to  Our  Commissioners 
for  Trade  &  Plantations,  Neverthless  if  it  should  hap- 
pen that  you  should  have  Reasons  for  suspending  any 
Councillor  not  fit  to  be  communicated  to  the  Council, 
you  may  in  that  case  suspend  such  Person  without 
their  Consent,  but  you  are  thereupon  immediately  to 
send  to  Us,  by  one  of  Our  Principal  Secretaries  of 
State,  and  to  Our  Commissrs  for  Trade  &  Plantations, 
an  Account  thereof,  with  your  Reasons  for  such  Sus- 
pension, as  also  for  not  communicating  the  same  to 
the  Council,  &  Duplicates  thereof  by  the  next  Oppor- 
tunity. 

10  You  are  likewise  to  signify  our  Pleasure  unto 
the  Members  of  Our  said  Council  that  if  any  of  them 
shall  hereafter  absent  themselves  from  Our  said  Prov- 
counciiiore  mce>  anc*  continue  absent  above  the  space  of 
absenting.  Twelve  months  together,  without  Leave 
from  you  or  from  Our  Governor  or  Commander  in 
chief  of  the  said  Province  for  the  time  being,  first 
obtained  under  your  or  his  Hand  and  Seal  or  shall 
remain  absent  for  the  space  of  two  years  successively 
\vithout  Our  Leave  given  them,  under  Our  Royal  Sign 
Manual,  their  Place  or  Places  in  Our  said  Council  shall 
immediately  thereupon  become  void,  and  that  we  will 
forthwith  appoint  others  in  their  Stead. 


173S]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR   I.KWIS  MORHI-.  I'.l 

1 1  And  whereas  we  are  sensible  that  effectual  ( 'an 
ought  to  be  taken  to  oblige  the  Members  of  Our  Coun- 
cil to  a  due  Attendance  therein,  in  order  to  prevent 
the  many  inconveniences  that  may  happen  for  want 
of  a  Quorum  of  the  Council  to  transact  Business  as 
Occasion  may  require. 

It  is  Our  Will  &  Pleasure,  that  if  any  of  the  Mem- 
counciiioi-8  ^)er8  °f  Our  said  Council  residing  in  the 
attendance  Province,  shall  hereafter  willfully  absent 
themselves  from  the  Council  Board,  when  duly  sum- 
mon'd,  without  a  just  &  lawfull  Cause,  and  shall  per- 
sist therein  after  admonition,  you  suspend  the  said 
Councillors  so  absenting  themselves,  till  Our  further 
Pleasure  be  known,  giving  us  timely  notice  thereof, 
And  we  hereby  will  &  require  you,  that  this  Our 
Pleasure  be  signified  to  the  sev1  Members  of  Our  Coun- 
cil aforesaid,  and  that  it  be  entred  in  the  Council  Books 
of  Our  said  Province  as  a  standing  Rule. 

12.  And  Our  Will  &  Pleasure  is  that  with  all  con- 
venient speed  you  call  together  one  Gen!  Assembly  for 
the  enacting  of  Laws  for  the  joint  and  mutual  Good 
Meetingof  the  °^  the  whole  Province,  That  the  first  meet- 
Assembly     ing  of  the  said  gen!  Assembly  be  at  Perth 

Amboy  in  East  New  Jersey,  in  case  the  last  was  at 
Burlington,  and  that  all  future  Gen!  Assemblies  do 
meet  and  sitt  at  one  or  the  other  of  those  Places  allter- 
nately  or  otherwise,  as  you,  with  the  advice  of  Our 
foresaid,  Council,  shall  think  fitt  in  case  of  extraordi- 
nary necessity,  to  appoint  them. 

13.  Our  Will  &  Pleasure  is  and  you  are  accordingly 
to  make  the  same  known  in  the  most  publick  manner, 

Method  of  That  the  Method  of  choosing  Representa- 
Eiecuon  tives  for  the  future  shall  be  as  follows  viz' 
Two  by  the  Inhabitants  Householders  of  the  City  or 
Town  of  Perth  Amboy  in  East  New  Jersey  and  two 
by  the  Freeholders  of  each  of  the  five  Counties  in  the 
said  Division  of  Blast  new  Jersey.  Two  by  the  Inhabi- 


20  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     fl738 

tants  Householders  of  the  City  or  Town  of  Burlington 
in  West  New  Jersey,  and  two  by  the  Freeholders  of 
each  of  the  five  Counties  in  the  said  Division  of  West 
New  Jersey.  Which  persons  so  to  be  chosen  make  up 
together  the  number  of  twenty  four  representatives. 
And  it  is  Our  further  Will  and  Pleasure  that  no  Per- 
son, shall  be  capable  of  being  elected  a  Representative 
by  the  Freeholders  of  either  Division  as  aforesaid  or 
afterwards  of  sitting  in  gen!  Assemblies  who  shall  not 
have  One  thousand  Acres  of  Land  of  an  Estate  of 
Freehold  in  his  own  Right  within  the  Division  for 
which  he  shall  be  chosen,  or  have  a  personal  Estate  in 
Money,  Goods  or  Chatties  to  the  Value  of  five  hundred 
pounds  Sterling,  and  all  Inhabitants  of  Our  said  Prov- 
ince being  so  qualified  as  aforesaid  are  hereby  declared 
capable  of  being  elected  accordingly. 

14.  You  are  to  observe  in  the  passing  of  Laws  that 
the  Stile  of  Enacting  the  same  be  by  the  Govern" 

Passing  of  Council  &  Assembly  and  no  other;  you  are 
Laws.  also  as  much  as  possible  to  observe  in  the 
passing  of  all  Laws  that  what  ever  may  be  requisite 
upon  each  different  matter  be  accordingly  provided 
for,  by  a  different  Law,  without  intermixing  in  one  & 
the  same  Act  such  things,  as  have  no  proper  Relation 
to  each  other  and  you  are  more  especially  to  take  Care 
that  no  Clause  or  Clauses  be  inserted  in  or  annexed  to 
any  Act,  which  shall  be  foreign  to  what  the  Title  of 
such  respective  Act  imports,  and  that  no  perpetual 
Clause  be  made  part  of  any  temporary  Law,  and  that 
no  Act  whatsoever  be  suspended,  alterd,  continued, 
revived  or  repealed  by  Gen1  Words,  but  that  the  Title 
and  Date  of  such  Act  so  suspended  alter'd,  continued, 
revived  or  repeal'd  be  particularly  mention'd  and 
expressed  in  the  enacting  part. 

15.  You  are  to  take  care  that  in  all  Acts  or  Orders 
to  be  passed  within  .that  Our  Province  in  any  Case  for 
levying  money  or  imposing  fines  &  Penalties,  express 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORItl-. 


mention  be  made  that  the  same  is  granted  or 
to  Us  Our  Heirs  or  Successors  for  the  publick  Uses  <>f 
that  Our  Province  and  the  Support  of  the  CT<  wnnn1 
thereof,  as  by  the  said  Act  or  Order  shall  be  directed, 
And  you  are  particularly  not  to  pass  any  Law,  or  do 
any  Act  by  Grant  or  Settlement  or  otherwise  whereby 
Our  Revenue  may  be  lessened  or  impair'd,  without  Our 
especial  Leave  or  Commands  therein. 

1(5.  You  are  not  to  permit  any  Clause  whatsoever  to 

pubuck      b®  inserted  in  any  Law  for  the  levying  of 

Money  to  be  Money  or  the  Value  of  Money  whereby  the 

accounted  for.   the    g&me    ghall    n()t    be    made    j       We  ^    ^ 

accounted  for  unto  Us  &  to  Our  Com  miss'  of  Our 
Treasury  or  Our  high  Treasurer  for  the  time  being, 
and  audited  by  Our  Auditor  Gen?  of  Our  Plantations 
or  his  Deputy  for  the  time  being.  And  We  do  par- 
ticularly require  and  enjoyn  you  under  the  Pain  of 
Our  highest  Displeasure  to  take  care  that  fair  Books  of 
Accounts  of  all  Receipts  &  Payments  of  all  publick 
money  be  duely  kept,  and  the  Truth  thereof  attested 
upon  Oath,  and  that  all  such  Accounts  be  audited  & 
attested  by  the  Auditor  Gen!  of  Our  Plantations  or  his 
Deputy,  who  is  to  transmit  Copies  thereof  to  Our 
Commissr  of  Our  Treasury,  or  to  Our  high  Treasurer 
for  the  time  being,  and  that  you  do  every  half  Year  or 
oftner  send  another  Copy  thereof  attested  by  your  self 
to  Our  Cora  miss"  for  Trade  &  Plantations  &  Dupli- 
cates thereof  by  the  next  Conveyance  in  which  Books 
shall  be  specified  every  particular  Sum  raised  and  dis- 
posed of  together  with  the  names  of  the  Persons  to 
whom  any  payment  shall  be  made:  to  the  End  We 
may  be  satisfied  of  the  right  and  due  application  of  the 
Revenue  of  Our  said  Province  with  the  probability  of 
the  Increase  or  Diminution  of  it,  under  eveiy,  Head  or 
article  thereof. 

impost  on        '"•  It  is  Our  express  W/7/  <£  PA  ">"/v  that 
Liquors      no  Law  for  rais?  any  Imposition  on 


M  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

or  other  strong  Licquors,  be  made  to  continue  for  less 
than  one  whole  Year,  and  that  all  other  Laws  made 
for  the  Supply  &  Support  of  the  Governm?  shall  be 
indefinite  and  without  Limitation,  except  the  same  be 
for  a  Temporary  Service,  and  wh°h  shall  expire  and 
have  their  full  effect  within  the  time  therein  prefixt. 
Royai  assent  ^-  And  whereas  several  Laws  have  for- 
to  be  had  on  merly  been  enacted  for  so  short  a  time  that 
the  Assent  or  Refusal  of  Our  Eoyal  Prede- 
cessors could  not  be  had  thereupon  before  the  time  for 
which  such  Laws  were  enacted  did  expire,  you  shall 
not  for  the  future  give  your  Assent  to  any  Law  that 
shall  be  enacted  for  a  less  time  than  two  Years  (except 
in  the  Cases  mention'd  in  the  foregoing  Article).  And 
you  shall  not  re-enact  any  Law  to  which  the  Assent  of 
Us  or  Our  Royal  Predecessors  has  once  been  refused 
without  Express  Leave  for  that  Purpose  first  obtained 
from  Us,  upon  a  full  Representation  by  you  to  be 
made  to  Us,  and  to  Our  Commiss"  for  Trade  &  Plan- 
tations, of  the  Reason  and  necessity  for  passing  such 
Law,  nor  give  your  assent  to  any  Law  for  repealing 
any  other  Act  pass'd  in  your  Government,  whether 
the  same  has  or  has  not  received  Our  Royal  Approba  - 
tion,  unless  you  take  care  that  there  be  a  Clause 
inserted  herein,  suspending  and  deferring  the  Execu- 
tion thereof  until  Our  Pleasure  be  known  concern?  the 
same. 

19  Whereas  Acts  have    been    pass'd    in 

Bills  of  Credit  . .  .  ,. 

some  of  Our  Plantations  in  America  tor 
striking  Bills  of  Credit  and  issuing  out  the  same  in  lieu 
of  Money  in  Order  to  discharge  their  publick  Debts  and 
for  other  purposes,  from  whence  sev!  Inconveniencies 
have  arisen  It  is  therefore  Our  Will  &  Pleasure  that 
you  do  not  give  your  Assent  to,  or  pass  any  Act  in  Our 
said  Province  of  New  Jersey  under  your  Government 
whereby  Bills  of  Credit  may  be  struck  or  issued  in  lieu 
of  Money  without  a  Clause  be  inserted  in  such  Act 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  23 

declaring  that  the  same  shall  not  take  Effect,  until  Un- 
said Act  shall  have  been  approved  &  confirm'd  by  Us 
Our  Heirs  &  Successors.  And  it  is  Our  further  Will 
&  Pleasure  that  you  do  not  give  your  Assent  to  or 
pass  any  Act  in  Our  said  Province  of  New  Jersey 
under  your  Government,  for  payment  of  Money  either 
to  you  the  Governor  or  to  any  Lieu*  Governor  or  Com  • 
mander  in  chief  or  to  any  of  the  Members  of  Our 
Council  or  to  any  other  Person  whatsoever  except  to 
Us  Our  Heirs  and  Successors  without  a  Clause  be  like- 
wise inserted  in  such  Act  declaring  that  the  same  shall 
not  take  effect  until  the  said  Act  shall  have  been 
approv'd  and  confirm'd  by  Us  Our  Heirs  or  Successors. 
20.  And  whereas  great  Mischiefs  may  arise  by  pass- 
Biiis  of  extra-  m&  Bills  of  an  unusual  tfc  extraordinary 
ordinary  na-  Nature  &  Importance  in  the  Plantations, 
wc.h  Bills  remain  in  force  there  from  the 
time  of  enacting  until  Our  Pleasure  be  signified  to  the 
contrary,  We  do  hereby  will  and  require  you  not  to 
pass  or  give  your  Consent  hereafter  to  any  Bill  or  Bills 
in  the  Assembly  of  Our  said  Province  of  unusual  and 
extraordinary  Nature  and  importance,  wherein  Our 
Prerogative,  or  the  Property  of  Our  Subjects  may  be 
prejudiced,  or  the  Trade  or  Shipping  of  this  Kingdom 
any  ways  affected,  until  you  shall  have  first  transmit- 
ted to  Us  the  Draught  of  such  a  Bill  or  Bills  and  shall 
have  receiv'd  Our  Royal  Pleasure  thereupon  unless  you 
take  care  in  the  passing  of  any  Bill  of  such  Nature  as 
before  mention'd  that  there  be  a  Clause  inserted  thnv 
in,  suspending  &  deferring  the  Execution  thereof 
until  Our  Pleasure  shall  be  known  concerning  the 
sunic:  Ami  it  is  Our  express  11 7//  &  Pleasure  that  m> 
Duty  shall  be  laid  in  the  Province  under  Your  Govern- 
ment upon  British  Shipping  or  upon  the  Product  or 
Manufacture  of  Great  Britain,  And  that  you  do  not 
upon  Pain  of  Our  highest  Displeasure  give  your  Assent 
to  any  Law  whatsoever,  wherein  the  Natives  or  Inliali- 


24  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

itants  of  New  Jersey  are  put  on  a  more  Advantageous 
footing  than  those  of  this  Kingdom. 

21s*  You  are  also  to  take  Care  that  no  pri- 
vate Act,  whereby  the  property  of  private 
Persons  may  be  affected,  be  passed,  in  which  there  is 
not  a  saving  of  the  Right  of  Us,  Our  Heirs  and  Suc- 
cessors, all  Bodies  Politick  or  Corporate  and  of  all  other 
Persons  except  such  as  are  mention'd  in  the  said  Act, 
and  those  claiming  by,  from  -and  under  them,  and  fur- 
ther you  shall  take  [care?  |  that  no  such  private  Act  be 
passed  without  a  Clause  suspending  the  Execution 
thereof  until  the  same  shall  have  rece'd  Our  Royal 
approbation.  It  is  likewise  Our  Will  &  Pleasure  that 
you  do  not  give  your  Assent  to  any  private  Act  until 
Proof  be  made  before  you  in  Council,  (and  entred  in 
the  Council  Books)  that  publick  Notification  was  made 
of  the  Parties  Intention  to  apply  for  such  Act  in  the 
sevl  Parish  Churches  where  the  Premises  in  Question 
lye,  for  three  Sundays  at  least  Successively,  before  any 
such  Act  shall  be  brought  into  the  Assembly;  And 
that  a  Certificate  under  your  Hand  be  transmitted 
with  and  annexed  to  every  such  Private  Act  signify- 
ing that  the  same  has  pass'd  thro'  all  the  forms  above 
mention'd. 

22.  You  are  to  transmit  Authentick  Copies  of  all 
Laws,  Statutes  and  Ordinances  that  are  now  made 
and  in  force  which  have  not  yet  been  sent  or  which  at 
any  time  hereafter  shall  be  made  or  enacted  within  the 
copies  of  aii  sa^  Province,  each  of  them  separately  under 
Laws  to  be  the  publick  Seal  unto  Us  and  to  Our  said 
transmitted.  Commr,  for  Tmde  and  plantations  within 

three  months  or  by  the  first  Opportunity  after  their 
being  enacted,  together  with  Duplicates  thereof  by  the 
next  Conveyance  upon  Pain  of  Our  Highest  Displeas- 
ure and  of  the  Forfeiture  of  that  Year's  Salary, 
wherein  you  shall  at  any  time  or  upon  any  pretence 
whatsoever  omit  to  send  over  the  said  Laws,  Statutes, 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  25 

and  Ordinances  as  aforesaid,  within  the  time  above 
limited:  As  also  of  such  other  Penalty  as  We  shall 
please  to  inflict.  And  you  are  hereby  directed  to  take 
care  that  the  Copies  and  Duplicates  of  the  said  Acts  be 
fairly  abstracted  in  the  Margins;  But  if  it  shall  happen 
that  no  shipping  shall  come  from  the  said  Province 
within  three  months  after  the  making  such  Laws, 
Statutes  and  Ordinances,  whereby  the  same  may  be 
transmitted  as  aforesaid  then  the  said  Laws,  Statutes 
and  Ordinances  are  to  be  transmitted  as  aforesaid  by 
the  next  Conveyance,  after  the  making  thereof,  when- 
ever it  may  happen,  for  Our  Approbation  or  Disallow- 
ance of  the  same. 

23.  And  Our  further  Will   &  Pleasure  is,   that  in 
Dates  &  ob-  every  Act  whc*  shall  be  transmitted,  there  be 
servations  on  the  sev!  Dates  or  respective  Times  when  the 

Vets 

same  pass'd  the  Assembly,  the  Council,  & 
received  your  Assent;  and  you  are  to  be  as  particular 
as  may  be  in  your  Observations  ( to  be  sent  to  Our 
Comniss"  for  Trade  and  Plantations )  upon  every  Act, 
that  is  to  say  whether  the  same  is  introductive  of  a 
new  Law,  Declaratory  of  a  former  Law  or  does  repeal 
a  Law  then  before  in  being;  And  you  are  likewise  to 
send  to  Our  said  Comm™  the  reasons  for  the  passing  of 
such  Law,  unless  the  same  do  fully  appear  in  the  Pre- 
amble of  the  said  Act. 

24.  You  are  to  require  the  Secretary  of  Our  said 
Province  or  his  Deputy  for  the  time  being  to  furnish 
secretary   to  ^ou  w^    transcript**  of  all  such  Acts  and 
furnish  tran-  publick  Orders  as  shall  be  made  from  time  to 
scripteof  AC*  time  toggle,.  with  a  Copy  of  the  journais 

of  the  Council,  And  that  all  such  Transcripts  and 
Copies  be  fairly  abstracted  in  the  Margins,  to  the  End 
the  same  may  be  transmitted  to  us,  and  to  Our 
Commissr'  for  Trade  and  Plantations  as  above  directed 
which  he  is  duely  to  perform  upon  Pain  of  incurring 
the  forfeiture  of  his  Place. 


26  ADMINISTRATION  OF  OOVERNOR  LEAVIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

25.  You  are  also  to  require  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
cierk  of  AS-  Assembly  or  other  proper  Officer  transcripts 
nish  dopiest  of  all  the  Journals  and  other  proceedings  of 
aii  journals,  the  said  Assembly,  and  that  all  such  tran- 
scripts be  fairly  abstracted  in  the  margins,  to  the  end 
the    same    may  in  like  manner  be  transmitted   as 
aforesaid. 

26.  Whereas  several  Inconveniencies  have  arisen  to 
Our  Governments  in  the.  Plantations  by  Gifts  and 
entftoljo^rt  Presents   made  to  Our  Governors  by  the 
forbid  General  Assemblies.     You  are   therefor  to 
propose  unto  the  Assembly  at  their  first  meeting,  after 
your  Arrival,  and  to  use  your  utmost  Endeavours 
with  them  that  an  Act  be  pass'd  for  raising  and  settling 
a  publick  Revenue  for  defraying  the  necessary  Charge 
of  the   Government  of  Our  said  Province,  And  that 
therein  Provision  be  particularly  made  for  a  competant 
Salary,  to  yourself  as  Cap*  General  and  Governor  in 
chief  of  Our  said  Province,  and  to  other  Our  succeed- 
ing Captains  Gen?  for  supporting  the  Dignity  of  the 
said  Office,  as  likewise  due  Provision  for  the  contin- 
gent Charges  of  Our  Council  and  Assembly,  and  for 
the  Salaries  of  the  respective  Clerks  and  other  Officers 
thereunto  belonging,  as  likewise  of  all  other  Officers 
necessary  for  the  Administration  of  that  Government; 
and  particularly  that  such  Salaries  be  enacted  to  be 
paid  in  Sterling  or  Proclamation   money  or  in  Paper 
Bills  of  Credit  current  in  that  Province,  in  proportion 
to  the  Value  such  Bills  shall  pass  at,  in  Exchange  for 
Silver,  that  thereby  the  respective  Officers  may  depend 
on  some  certain  Income,  and  not  be  lyable  to  have 
their  Stipends  varied  by  the  uncertain  Value  of  Paper 
money,  and  that  in  such   Act  all  Officers  Salaries  be 
fixed  to  some    reasonable   Yearly  Sum,   except  the 
Members  of  the  Council  and  Assembly  and  the  Offi- 
cers attending  them,  or  others  whose  attendance  on 
the  publick  is  uncertain,  who  may  have  a  reasonable 


1?:5S]      AMMINIvrUATIOX   OF  (iOVKHNOR   LKW1S  MOKKI8.  '.' 1 

pay  established  per  Diem  during  their  attendance 
only;  and  when  such  Revenue  shall  have  so  been  set- 
tled Provision  made  as  aforesaid,  then  Our  express 
Will  &  Pleasure  is  that  neither  you  Our  Governor  nor 
any  Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor,  Commander  in 
chief  or  President  of  Our  Council  of  Our  said  Province 
of  New  Jersey  for  the  time  being  do  give  your  or  their 
consent  to  the  passing  of  any  Law  or  Act  for  any  Gift 
or  Present  to  be  made  to  you  or  them  by  the  Assem- 
bly, and  that  neither  you  nor  them  do  receive  any  Gift 
or  present  from  the  Assembly  or  others,  on  any 
Account  or  in  any  Manner  whatsoever  upon  Pain  of 
Our  highest  Displeasure  and  of  being  recalled  from 
that  Our  Government. 

27.  And  We  do  further  direct  and  require  that  this 
Declaration  of  Our  Royal  Will  &  Pleasure  in  the  two 
foregoing  Articles  be  communicated  to  the  Assembly 
at  their  fii-st  Meeting  after  your  Arrival  in  Our  said 
Province,  and  enter'd  in  the  Register  of  Our  Council 
and  Assembly,  that  all  Persons  whom  it  may  concern 
may  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

i"".  Whereas  for  some  years  past  the  Governors  of 
of  some  of  Our  Plantations  have  seiz'd  and  appro]  ri- 
whaie  Fish  ated  to  their  own  use  the  produce  of  Whales 
of  sev!  kinds  taken  upon  those  Coasts,  upon 
pretence  that  Whales  are  Royal  Fishes,  which  tends 
givatly  to  discourage  this  Branch  of  Fishery  in  Our 
Plantations,  and  prevent  Persons  from  settling  there. 
It  is  therefore  Our  Will  &  Pleasure  that  you  do  not 
pretend  to  any  such  Claim  nor  give  any  manner  of 
<li-M  ouragement  to  the  Fishery  of  Our  Subjects  upon 
the  Coast  of  the  Province  under  your  Government. 
but  on  the  contrary  that  you  give  all  possible  ennui i-- 
a^cinrnt  thereto. 

21).  Whereas   great  Prejudice   may  happen  to  Our 
Srrvice  and  the  Security  of  Our  said  Province  under 
Ab-  your    Government  by  your  absence  from 
these  parts,  you  are  not  upon  any  pretence 


28  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

whatsoever  to  come  to  Europe  from  your  Government 
without  having  first  obtained  Leave  for  so  doing,  un- 
der Our  Signet  and  Sign  Manuel  or  by  our  Order  in 
Our  Privy  Council. 

30.  And  whereas  We  have  been  pleased  by  Our 
Commission  to  direct  in  case  of  your  Death  or  Absence 
Devolution  of  from  Our  said  Province,  and  in  case  there 

Government      be  ^  that     time    UQ    pergon    up()n    the   place 

commissionated   or  Appointed  by  Us  to  be  Our  Lieut- 
Governor  or  Commander  in  cheif ,  the  eldest  Councillor 
whose  Name  is  first  placed  in  these  Instructions  to 
you,  and  who  shall  be  at  time  of  your  Death  or  Ab- 
sence residing  within  Our  said  Province  shall  take 
upon  him  the  Administration  of  the  Government  and 
execute  Our  said  Commission  and  Instructions  and  the 
sev!  Powers  and  Authorities  therein  contained  in  the 
Manner  therein    directed;  It  is  nevertheless  Our  ex- 
press Will  &  Pleasure  that  in   such  Case  the  said 
Eldest  Councillor  or  President  shall  forbear  to  pass 
Act  or  Acts  but  such  as  shall  be  immediately  necessary 
for  the  Peace  and  Welfare  of  Our  said  Province  with- 
out Our  particular  Order  for  that  purpose,  and  that  he 
shall  not  take  upon  him  to  disolve  the  Assembly  then 
in  being,  nor  to  remove  -or  suspend  any  of  the  Mem- 
bers of  Our  said  Council,  nor  any  Judges,  Justices  of 
the  Peace  or  other  Officers  Civil  or  Military  without 
the  Advice  and  Consent  of  at  least  seven  of  the  Coun- 
cil, and  Our  said  President  is  to  transmit  over  to  Us 
and  to  Our  Comm"  for  Trade  and  Plantations  by  the 
first  Opportunity,   the  Reasons  of  such  Alterations 
sign'd  by  him   and   Our  Council.     Provided  that   if 
thro'  Length  of  Time  any  Surveyor  Gen!  of  Our  Cus 
toms  shall  become  the  Senior  Councillor  in  Our  said 
Province,  that  he  shall  not  by  Virtue  of  such  Seniority 
be  ever  capable  to  take  upon  him  the  Administration 
of  the  Govemm*  there  upon  the  Death  or  Absence  of 
any  of  Our  Captains  General  or  Governors  in  chief  or 


i::»s]      \  DM  I  N'ISTHATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  \IOUllf8.  29 

Lieut"  Governors.  But  whenever  such  Death  or  Ab- 
sence shall  happen,  the  Government  shall  devolve 
upon  the  Councillor  next  in  Seniority  to  the  Surveyor 
Gten1  unless  We  shall  hereafter  think  it  for  Our  Royal 
Service  to  nominate  John  Peagrum  or  any  other  of 
Our  s;iid  Surveyors  Gen1  Councillors  in  Ordinary  in 
Our  s!1  Province,  who  shall  not  in  that  case  he  excluded 
any  Benefit  which  attends  the  Seniority  of  their  Rank 
in  the  said  Council. 

31.  And  whereas  We  are  willing  in  the  best  Manner, 
to  provide  for  the  Support  of  the  Government  of  Our 
said  Province,  by  setting  a  part  sufficient  Allowances 
to  such  as  shall  be  Our  Governor,  Lieut1  Governor, 
Commander  in  Chief,  or  President  of  Our  Council 
residing  for  the  time  being,  within  the  same.     Our 

Allowance  Will  &  Pleasure  therefore  is,  that  when  it 
to  Lieu-.  GOV.  shall  happen  that  you  shall  be  absent  from 
the  Territory  of  New  Jersey  of  which  we  have  appointed 
you  Governor,  one  full  moiety  of  the  Salary  and  of  all 
Perquisites  and  Emoluments  whatsoever,  which  would 
otherwise  become  due  unto  you,  shall  during  the  Time 
of  your  Absence  from  the  said  Territory  be  paid  and 
satisfied  unto  such  Governor.  Lieut'  Governor  Com- 
mander in  chief  or  President  of  Our  Council,  who  shall 
be  resident  upon  the  Place  for  the  time  being,  which  we 
do  hereby  Order  &  Allot  unto  him,  towards  his  Mainte- 
nance and  for  the  better  Support  of  the  Dignity  of  that 
Our  Government. 

32.  You  are  not  to  suffer  any  Publick  Money  what- 

soever to  be  issued  or  disposed  of,  otherwise 
Money  how  to  than  by  Warrant  under  your  Hand  by  and 


be  issued  w^h  t^e  Advice  and  Consent  of  Our  said 
Council  ;  But  the  Assembly  may  be  nevertheless  per- 
mitted from  time  to  time  to  view  and  examine  the 
Accounts  of  Money  or  Value  of  Money  disposed  of  by 
Virtue  of  Laws  made  by  them,  which  you  are  to  signify 
unto  them  as  there  shall  be  Occasion. 


30  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

33.  Whereas  it  is  necessary  that  Our  Rights  and 
court  of       Dues  be  preserv'd   and   recoverd  and  that 

Exchequer.  Speedy  and  effectual  Justice  be  administra- 
ted in  all  Cases  relating  to  Our  Revenue.  Yon  are  to 
take  care  that  a  Court  of  Exchequer  be  calld  and  meet 
at  all  such  times  as  shall  be  needfull,  and  you  are  upon 
your  Arrival,  to  inform  Us  and  Our  Comniissrs  for 
Trade  and  Plantations,  whether  Our  Service  may  re- 
quire, that  a  constant  Court  of  Exchequer  be  settled 
and  established  there. 

34.  You  shall  not  remit  any  Fines  or  Forfeitures 
Fines  and     whatsoever  above  the  Sum  of  ten  pounds, 

Forfeitures.  nor  dispose  of  any  forfeitures  whatsoever 
until,  upon  signifying  unto  Our  Commiss™  for  Trade  & 
Plantations,  the  nature  of  the  Offence,  and  the  Occa- 
sion of  such  Fines  and  Forfeitures,  with  the  particular 
Sums  or  Value  thereof  (which  you  are  to  do  with  all 
Speed)  you  shall  have  received  Our  Directions  therein, 
but  you  may  in  the  meantime  suspend  the  payment  of 
the  said  Fines  and  Forfeitures. 

35.  It  is  Our   Will  and  Pleasure  that  you  do  not 
Forfeitures  dispose  of  Forfeitures  or  Escheats  to  any 

&  Escheats.  Person  until  the  Sheriff  or  other  proper  Offi- 
cer have  made  Enquiry  by  a  Jury  upon  their  Oaths 
into  the  true  Value  thereof,  and  you  are  to  take  care 
that  the  Produce  be  duely  paid  to  Our  Receiver  Gen?  of 
Our  said  Province  and  a  full  Account  transmitted  to 
Our  Commiss1?  of  Our  Treasury  or  Our  high  Treasurer 
for  the  time  being,  and  to  Our  Commr-8  for  Trade  and 
Plantations  with  the  Names  of  the  Persons  to  whom 
disposed,  and  Provided  that  in  the  Grants  of  all  for- 
feited and  escheated  Lands  there  be  a  Clause  obliging 
the  Grantee  to  plant  and  cultivate  three  Acres  for  every 
fifty  within  three  Years  after  the  pass?  such  Grant, 
in  case  the  same  was  not  so  planted  &  cultivated 
before,  and  that  there  be  the  proper  Savings  and 
Reservations  of  Quit  Rent  to  Us  Our  Heirs  &  Succes- 
sors according  to  the  Law  of  Our  Province. 


I?:!S|      \DMI\ISTKATION   OK  (JOVKUNOK   LEWIS  MOHIM-.  31 

:'.<;.  You  shall  not  displace  any  of  the  Judges,  Jus- 
of  tices,  Sheriffs,  or  other  Officers  or  ministers 
\\ithin  Our  Said  Province  without  good  and 
sufficient  Cause  to  be  signified  unto  Us  and  to  Our  said 
Coimu'M'or  Trade  and  Plantations,  and  to  prevent 
Arbitrary  Removals  of  Judges  and  Justices  of  the 
Peace  you  shall  not  express  any  Limitation  of  Time  in 
the  Commissions  -which  you  are  to  grant  with  the 
Advice  and  consent  of  the  Council  of  Our  said  Prov- 
ince to  Pei-sons  fit  for  those  Employments  nor  shall 
you  execute  by  yourself  or  Deputy  any  of  the  said 
Offices,  nor  suffer  any  Person  to  execute  more  Offices 
than  one  by  Deputy. 

37.  You  shall  not  erect  any  Court  or  Office  of  Judi- 
courtof  judi-  cature  not  before  erected,  or  established,  nor 
eature.  disolve  any  Court  or  Office  already  erected 

or  established,  without  Our  especial  Order. 

88.  But  in  regard  We  have  been  informed  that  there 
court  of  de-  *s  a  great  want  of  a  particular  Court  of  de- 

termining    terrain?  of  small  Causes  you  are  to  recom'end 

1  it  to  the  Assembly  of  Our  si  Province,  that 

a  Law  be  pass'd,  if  not  already  done,  for  the  constitut- 

ing such  Court  or  Courts  for  the  ease  of  our  Subjects 

then-. 

:'.'.».  You  are  transmit  unto  Us  and  to  Our  Cornm" 
tor  Trade  and  Plantations,  with  all  convenient  Speed, 
a  particular  Account  of  all  Establishments  of  Jurisdic- 
tions, Courts,  Offices,  &  Officers,  Powers,  Authorities, 
Fees  and  Priviledges  which  shall  be  granted 
AE8°tabiteh-  or  settled  within  Our  said  Province,  as  like- 


to  be  wjse  an   Account  of    all  publick   Charges 

transmitted  .  ,      _,  ,         -  , 

relating  to  the  said  Courts,  and  or  such 
Funds  as  are  settled  and  appropriated  to  discharge  the 
same,  together  with  exact  and  Authentick  Copies  of 
all  Proceedings  in  such  Causes  where  Appeals  shall  be 
made  to  Us  in  Our  Privy  Council. 


32  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

40.  And  you  are  with  the  Advice  &  Consent  of  Our 

salaries  &     sa^  Council  to  take  especial  Care  to  regu- 

Fees        late  all  Salaries  and  Fees  belonging  to  Places 

or  paid  upon  Emergencies,  that  may  be  within  the 

Bounds  of  Moderation,  and  that  no  Exaction  be  made 

on.  any  occasion  whatsoever.     As  also  that  Tables  of 

all  Fees  be  publickly  hung  up  in  all  Places  where  such 

Fees  are  to  be  paid,  and  you  are  to  transmit  Copies  of 

all  such  Tables  of  Fees  to  Us  and  to  Our  Commr."  for 

Trade  &  Plantations  as  af ores? 

Delay  in  jus-  41-  And  whereas  frequent  Complaints 
tice  have  been  made  to  Us  of  great  Delays  and 
undue  proceedings  in  the  Courts  of  Justice  in  several 
of  Our  Plantations,  whereby  many  of  Our  Subjects 
have  very  much  suffer'd,  and  it  "being  of  the  greatest 
Importance  to  Our  Service  and  to  the  Welfare  of  Our 
Plantations  that  Justice  be  every  where  speedily  and 
duely  administr?  and  that  all  Disorders,  Delays  & 
undue  Practices  in  the  administration  thereof  be 
effectually  prevented;  We  do  particularly  require  you 
to  take  especial  Care  that,  in  all  Courts  where  you  are 
authorized  to  preside,  Justice  be  impartially  adminis- 
tred,  and  that  in  all  other  Courts  established  within 
Our  said  Province,  all  Judges,  and  other  Persons 
therein  concern'd,  do  likewise  perform  their  several 
Duties  without  any  Delay  or  Partiality. 
Life  &  Proper-  ^  You  are  to  take  care  that  no  Man's 
ty  secured  Hfe,  Member,  Freehold  or  Goods  be  taken 
away,  or  harmed  in  Our  said  Province  otherwise  than 
by  establish'd  &  known  Laws,  not  repugnant  to,  but 
as  much  as  may  be  agreeable  to  the  Laws  of  this 
Kingdom. 

43.  It  is  Our  further  Will  and  Pleasure 
that  no  persons  for  the  future  be  sent  as 
prisoners  to  this  Kingdom  from  new  Jersey  without 
sufficient  Proof  of  their  Crimes,  &  that  Proof  trans- 
mitted along  with  the  said  Prisoners. 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS    MORRIS.       '    33 

44.  You  shall  endeavour  to  get  a  Law  pass'd  (if  not 
inhumane  Be-  already  doue)  for  the  restraining  of  any 


inhuman  Severity,  which  by  ill  Masters,  or 
Overseers  may  be  used  towards  their  Christian  Ser- 
vants, and  their  Slaves,  and  that  provision  be  made 
therein,  that  the  willfull  killing  of  Indians,  &  Negroes 
may  be  punish'd  with  Death,  and  that  a  fit  Penalty  be 
imposed  for  the  maiming  of  them. 

45.  You  are  to  take  care  that  all  Writs  be 
issued  in   Our  Name  throughout  Our  said 
Province. 

40.  Our  Will  &  Pleasure,  is  that  Appeals  be  per- 
mitted to  be  made  in  Cases  of  Error,  from  the  Courts. 
in  Our  said  Province  of  Nova  Casarea  or  New  Jersey, 
unto  you  &  the  Council  there,  and  in  your  absence 
from  Our  said  Province,  to  Our  Commander  in  chief 
for  the  time  being,  and  Our  said  Council  in  civil 
Causes,  xvlu'ivin  such  of  Our  said  CJOUIUSD,  88  shall  1.  • 
at  that  time  Judges  of  the  Court,  from 
whence  such  Appeal  shall  be  made  to  you 
Our  Governor  »fe  Council,  or  to  the  Commander  in  chief 
for  the  time  being  and  Council  as  aforesaid,  shall  not 
be  admitted  to  vote  upon  the  said  Appeal;  but  they 
may  nevertheless  be  present  at  the  hearing  thereof,  to 
give  the  Reasons  for  the  Judgement  given  by  them  in 
the  Cause  wherein  such  Appeal  shall  be  made.  Pro- 
vided. nevertheless  that  in  all  such  Appeals  the  Sum  or 
Value  appeaPd  for,  exceed  One  hundred  pounds  Ster- 
ling, and  that  Security  be  first  duely  given  by  the 
Appellant  to  answer  such  Charges  as  shall  be  awarded, 
in  case  the  first  Sentence  be  affirmed:  at  the  hearing 
of  all  which  Appeals,  any  three  or  more  of  the  Judiiv- 
of  the  Supreme  Court  are  to  be  present  to  inform  & 
assist  the  Court. 

47.  And  if  either  Party  shall  not  rest  satisfied  with 

Appeals  to  the  tne  Judgement  of  you  or  the  Commander 

crown       in  chief  for  the  time  being,  and  the  Council 


34       '     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVEBNOE  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

as  aforesaid;  Our  Will  &  Pleasure  is  that  they  then 
appeal  unto  Us,  in  Our  Privy  Council,  Provided  the 
Sum  or  Value  so  appealed  for  unto  Us,  do  exceed  Two 
hundred  pounds  Sterlf  and  that  such  Appeal  be  made 
within  fourteen  Days  after  Sentence,  and  that  good 
Security  be  given  by  the  Appellent  that  he  will  effectu- 
ally prosecute  the  same,  and  answer  the  Condemna- 
tion, as  also  pay  such  Costs  &  Damages  as  shall  be 
awarded  by  Us,  in  case  the  Sentence  of  you  or  the 
Commander  in  chief  for  the  time  being  and  Council  be 
affirmed;  And  it  is  Our  further  Will  &  Pleasure  that 
in  all  cases  where  by  your  Instructions  you  are  to 
admit  of  Appeals  to  Us  in  Our  Privy  Council,  Execu- 
tion be  suspended  until  the  final  Determination  of  such 
Appeal,  unless  good  and  sufficient  Security  be  given 
by  the  Appellee  to  make  ample  Restitution  of  all  that 
the  Appellant  shall  have  lost  by  means  of  such  Judge- 
ment or  Decree,  in  case,  upon  the  Determination  of 
such  Appeal,  such  Judgement  or  Decree  should  be 
reversed,  and  Restitution  awarded  to  the  Apellant. 

48.  You  are  also  to  permit  Appeals  to  Us  in  Council, 
Appeals  in    *u  a^  Cases  of  Fines  imposed  for  Mis-de- 

cases  of  Fines  meanors;  Provided  the  Fines  so  imposed 
amount  to  or  exceed  the  Value  of  £200  Sterl?  the 
Appellant  first  giving  good  Security  that  he  will 
effectually  prosecute  the  same,  and  answer  the  Con- 
demnation, if  the  Sentence  by  which  such  Fine  was 
imposed  in  Our  said  Province  of  Nova  Casarea  or  New 
Jersey  shall  be  confirmed. 

49.  Whereas  there  are  several  Offices  in  Our  Planta- 
pateot    offl-  tions  granted  under  Our  Great  Seal  of  this 

cere  Kingdom,  and  that  Our  Service  may  be  very 
much  prejudiced  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  the 
Patentees,  and  by  their  appointing  Deputies  not  fit  to 
officiate  in  that  stead;  You  are  therefore '  upon  your 
arrival  to  inspect  such  of  the  said  Offices  as  are  in  your 
Government,  and  to  enquire  into  the  Capacity  & 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOKHIx  35 

Behaviour  of  the  Persons  now  exercising  them;  and 
to  report  thereupon  to  Us,  and  to  Our  Comniiss?  for 
Trade  &  Plantations,  what  you  think  fit  to  be  done  or 
alter'd  in  relation  thereunto;  And  you  are  upon  the 
Misbehaviour  of  any  of  the  said  Patentees  or  their 
Deputies  to  suspend  them  from  the  Execution  of  their 
Places,  till  you  shall  have  represented  the  whole  Mat- 
ter, and  received  Our  Directions  therein  And  in  case 
of  the  Suspension  of  any  such  Officer,  it  is  Our  express 
Will  &    Pleasure  that  you    take   care   the   Person 
appointed  to  execute  the  Place  during  such  Suspen- 
sion, do  give  Sufficient  Security  to  the  Person  sus- 
pended to  be  answerable  to  him  for  the  Profits  accru- 
ing, during  such  Suspension,  in  case  we  shall  think  fit 
to  restore  him  to  his  Place  again,  it  is  nevertheless 
Our  Will  &  Pleasure  that  the  Person  executing  the 
Place,  during  such  Suspension,  shall  for  his  Encour- 
agement receive  the  same  Profits  as  the  Person  sus- 
pended, if  a  Deputy,  did,  or  a  Moiety  of  the  Profits,  in 
case  of  Suspension  of  the  Patentee,  But  you  shall  noi 
by  colour  of  any  Power,  or  authority,  hereby  or  other- 
wise granted  or  mentioned  to  be  granted  unto  you, 
take  upon  you  to  give,  grant  or  dispose  of  any  Office 
or  Place  within  Our  said  Province,  which  now  is  or 
shall  be  granted  under  the  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain, 
any  otherways  than  that,  you  may,  upon  the  Vacancy 
of  any  such  Office  or  Place  or  Suspension  of  any  such 
Officer  by  you  as  aforesaid,  put  in  any  fit  person  to 
Officiate  in  the  Interval,  till  you  shall  have  represented 
the  Matter,  unto  Us,  and  to  Our  ComnY"  for  Trade  & 
Plantat'"  as  aforesaid  (which  you  are  to  do  by  the  HIM 
Opportunity)  &  till  the  said  Office  or  Place  be  disposed 
of  by  Us  Our  Heirs  or  Successors,  under  the  Great  Seal 
of  Great  Britain,  or  that  Our  further  Diiv.-tions  hi- 
gh-en therein.     And  it  is  Our  express  Will  &  Pleasure 
that  you  do  countenance  and  give  nil  due  Encoum Ce- 
ment to  all  Our  Patent  Officers  in  the  Enjoyment  of 


36  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

their  Legal  &  accustom'd  Fees,  Rights,  Priviledges 
and  Emoluments,  according  to  the  true  Intent  & 
meaning  of  their  Patents. 

50  And  whereas  several  Complaints  have  been  made 
surveyor  ^J  *he  Surveyor  Gen?  and  other  Officers  of 
oeni  Our  Customs  in  Our  Plantations  in  America, 
that  they  have  been  frequently  obliged  to  serve  on 
Juries,  and  personally  to  appear  in  Arms,  whenever 
the  Militia  is  drawn  out,  and  thereby  are  much  hin- 
dred  in  the  Execution  of  their  Employments,  Our  Will 
&  Pleasure  is,  that  you  take  effectual  Care  and  give 
the  necessary  Directions  that  the  several  Officers  of 
Our  Customs,  be  excused  and  exempted  from  serving 
on  any  Juries  or  personally  appearing  in  Arms,  in  the 
Militia,  unless  in  cases  of  absolute  necessity,  or  serving 
any  Parochial  Offices,  which  may  hinder  them  in  the 
Execution  of  their  Duties. 

51.  And  whereas  the  Surveyor's  Genl  of  Our  Cus- 
surveyor  toms  in  the  Plantations,  are  empower'd  in 
Gen"  Power,  case  of  the  Vacancy  of  any  of  Our  Officers 
of  the  Customs,  by  Death,  Removal  or  otherwise,  to 
appoint  other  Persons  to  Execute  such  Offices  until 
they  receive  further  Directions  from  Our  Commr.8  of 
Our  Treasury,  or  Our  high  Treasurer,  or  Commr.8  of 
Our  Customs  for  the  time  being,  but  in  regard  the 
Districts  of  the  said  Surveyors  Gen.1  are  very  extensive, 
and  that  they  are  requir'd  at  proper  times  to  visit  the 
Officers  in  the  several  Governments  under  their  Inspec- 
tion and  that  it  might  happen  that  some  of  the  Officers 
of  Our  Customs  in  the  Province  of  Nova  Casarea  or 
New  Jersey,  may  die  at  the  time  when  the  Surveyor 
Gen1,  is  absent  in  some  distant  part  of  his  District,  so 
that  he  cannot  receive  advice  of  such  Officer's  Death, 
within  a  reasonable  time,  and  thereby  make  Provision 
for4  carrying  on  the  Service  by  appointing  some  other 
person  in  the  room  of  such  Officer,  who  may  happen  to 
die,  therefore  that  there  may  be  no  Delay  given  on  such 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  37 

Occasion  to  the  Masters  of  Ships,  or  Merchants  in  their 
Dispatches,  It  is  Our  further  Will  &  Pleasure  in  case 
of  such  Absence  of  the  Surveyor  Gen-  or  if  he  should, 
happen  to  die  and  in  such  cases  only,  that  upon  the 
Death  of  any  Collector  of  Our  Customs,  within  that 
Our  Province,  you  shall  make  choice  of  a  Person  of 
known  Loyalty,  Experience,  Diligence  and  Fidelity, 
to  be  employed  in  such  Collector's  Room,  for  the  Pur- 
poses aforesaid,  until  the  Survey!"  Gen!  of  Our  Customs 
shall  be  advised  thereof,  and  appoint  another  to  suc- 
ceed in  their  Places  or  that  further  Directions  shall  be 
given  therein  by  Our  Corn"  of  Our  Treasury  or  Our 
High  Treasurer  or  by  the  Comm™  of  Our  Customs  for 
the  time  being,  which  shall  be  first  signified,  taking 
care  that  you  do  not  under  Pretence  of  this  Instruc- 
tion, interfere  with  the  Powers  &  Authorities  given  by 
the  Commr.8  of  Our  Customs  to  the  said  Surveyor's 
Gen!  when  they  are  able  to  put  the  same  in  Execution. 
Administra-  52.  You  shall  administer  or  cause  to  be 
tion  of  oaths,  administered  the  Oaths,  mention'd  cin  the 
foresaid  Act  Entituled  an  Act  for  the  further  Security 
of  his  Majesty's  Person  &  Government  &  the  Succes- 
sion of  the  Crown  in  the  Heirs  of  the  late  Princess 
Sophia  being  Protestants,  and  for  extinguishing  the 
Hopes  of  the  pretended  Prince  of  Wales,  and  his  open 
&  secret  Abettors:  to  the  Members  and  Officers  of  the 
Council  and  Assembly,  and  to  all  Judges,  Justices  & 
all  other  Persons  that  hold  any  Office  or  Place  of  Trust 
or  Profit  in  the  said  Province,  whether  by  Virtue  of 
any  Patent  under  Our  great  Seal  of  this  Kingdom  or 
otherwise,  and  you  shall  also  cause  them  to  make  and 
subscribe  the  aforesaid  Declaration,  without  the  doing 
of  all  which,  you  are  not  to  admit  any  Person  whatso- 
ever into  any  publick  Office,  nor  suffer  those  who  have 
been  admitted  formerly  to  continue  therein. 

53.  And  whereas  it  may  happen  that  the  Number  of 
Inhabitants  fitly  qualified  to  serve  in  Our  Council,  in 


38  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

the  gen!  Assembly  and  in  other  places  of  Trust  or 
Profit  there,  may  be  but  small.  It  is  Our  Will  & 
Quakers.  Pleasure  that  such  of  the  said  People  called 
Quakers,  as  shall  be  found  capable  of  any  of  those 
Places  or  Employments,  and  shall  be  accordingly 
elected  or  appointed  to  serve  therein  may  upon  their 
taking  &  signing  the  Declarat"  of  Alligiance  to  Us;  in 
the  form  used  by  the  same  .People  in  this  Kingdom  to- 
gether with  a  Solemn  Declaration  for  the  true  Discharge 
of  their  respective  Trusts,  be  admitted  by  you  into  any 
of  the  said  Places  or  Employm1.8 

54.  And  you  are  also  with  the  Assistance  of  the 
conversion    Council  &  Assembly  to  find  out  the  best 
of  Negroes,    means  to  facilitate  &  encourage  the  Conver- 
sion of  Negroes,  &  Indians  to  the  Christian  Religion. 

55.  You  are  to  permit  a  Liberty  of  Conscience  to  all 
Liberty  of     Persons  (except  Papists)   so  they  be  con- 
conscience.    tented  with  a  quiet  &  Peaceable  Enjoyment 

of  the  same,  not  giving  Offence  or  Scandal  to  the  Gov- 
ernment. 

56.  You  shall  take  especial  care  that  God  Almighty 
be  devoutly  and  duely  served  throughout  your  Gov- 

observation  enim!  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  as  by 
of  Religion.  Law  established  read  each  Sunday  &  Holy- 
day,  and  the  Blessed  Sacrament  administred,  Accord- 
ing to  the  Rites  of  the  Church  of  England.  You  shall- 
be  carefull  that  the  Churches  already  built  there,  be 
well  &  orderly  Kept,  and  that  more  be  built,  as  the 
Province  shall  by  God's  blessing  be  improved,  and  that 
besides  a  competent  Maintenance  to  be  assigned  to 
the  Minister  of  each  Orthodox  Church,  a  convenient 
House  be  built  at  the  common  Charge  for  each  Minis- 
ter and  a  competent  Proportion  of  Land  assigned  to 
him  for  a  Glebe  &  Exercise  of  his  Industry,  and  you 
are  to  take  care  that  the  Parishes  be  bounded  &  set- 
tled as  you  shall  find  most  convenient  for  the  Accom- 
plishment this  Good  Work. 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  39 

57.  You  are  not  to  prefer  any  Minister  to  any  Eccle- 
yuaiiflcation  siastical  Benefice  in  that  Our  Province,  with- 
Of  Minister,    out  a  Certificate  from  the  Right  Rev?  Father 

in  God  the  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  of  his  being  con- 
formable to  the  Doctrine  &  Discipline  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  of  a  good  Life  and  Conversation,  and 
if  a  Person  already  prefer'd  to  a  Benefice  shall  appear 
to  you  to  give  Scandal  either  by  his  Doctrine  or  Man- 
ners, you  are  to  use  the  best  means  for  the  Removal 
of  him. 

58.  You  are  to  give  Order  that  every  Orthodox  Min- 
vestry.      ister  within  your  Government  be  one  of  the 

Vestry  in  his  respective  Parish,  and  that  no  Vestry  be 
held  without  him,  except  in  case  of  Sickness  or  that 
after  notice  of  a  Vestr)r  summon'd  he  omit  to  come. 

59.  You  are  to  inquire  whether  there  be  any  Minis- 
Ministers  in    ter  within  your  Government  who  preaches 
due  orders.    &  administers  the  Sacrament  in  any  Ortho- 
dox Church  or  Chappel,  whithout  being  in  due  Orders 
and  to  give  Account  thereof  to  the  L?  Bish?  of  London. 

60.  And  to  the  end,  the  Ecclesiastical  Jurisdiction 
Ecclesiastical   °^  the  said  Lord  Bishop  of  London,  may  take 
jurisdiction,    place  in  Our  said  Province,  so  far  as  con- 
veniently may  be,  We  do  think  fit  that  you  give  all 
countenance  &  Encouragem'  to  the  Exercise  of  the 
same,  except  only  the  collating  to  Benefices,  granting 
Lycenses  for  Marriages  &  Probate  of  Wills,  which  We 
have  reserved  to  you  Our  Governor  and   the  Com- 
mander in   chief  of  the  said  Province  for  the  time 
being. 

61.  And  you  are  to  take  especial  care,  that  a  Table 
wuto  of     of  Marriages,  established  by  the  Canons  of 
Marriages,    the  Church  of  England  be  hung  up  in  every 

.Orthodox  Church,  and  duely  observed.  And  you  are 
to  endeavour  to  get  a  Law  passed  in  the  Assembly  of 
Our  said  Province  (if  not  already  done)  for  the  strict 
observation  of  the  said  Table. 


40  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

62.  The  Right  Rev?  Father  in  God  Edmund  Lord 
Bishop  of  Lon-  Bishop  of  London,  having  presented  a  Pe- 
dons  Petition,  tition  to  his  late  Majesty  humbly  beseeching 
him  to  send  Instructions  to  the  Governor  of  all  the 
sev.1  Plantations  in  America,  that  they  cause  all  Laws 
already  made  against  Blasphemy,  Prophaness,  Adultry, 
Fornication,  Polygamy,  Incest,  Prophanation  of  the 
Lord's  Day,  -Swearing  and  Drunkenness  in  their  re- 
spective Governments  to  be' vigorously  executed;  And 
we  thinking  it  highly  just,  that  all  Persons  who  shall 
offend  in  any  of  the  particulars  aforesaid  should  be 
prosecuted  and  punished  for  their  said  Offences.  It  is 
therefore  Our  Witt  and  Pleasure  that  you  take  due 
Care  for  the  Punishment  of  the  forementioned  Vices, 
and  that  you  earnestly  recommend  it  to  y?  Assembly 
of  New  Jersey,  to  provide  effectual  Laws  for  the  Re- 
straint &  punishment  of  all  such  of  the  aforemention'd 
Vices  against  which  no  Laws  are  yet  provided,  and 
also  you  are  to  use  your  Endeavours  to  render  the 
Laws  in  being  more  effectual,  by  providing  for  the 
Punishment  of  the  aforemention'd  Vices  by  present- 
ment upon  Oath,  to  be  made  to  the  Temporal  Courts 
by  the  Church  Wardens  of  the  sev1.  Parishes  at  proper 
times  of  the  year  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose. 
And  for  the  further  Discouragement  of  Vice  &  En- 
couragem?  of  Vfrtue,  and  good  Living  (that  by  such 
Example  the  Infidels  may  be  invited  and  desire  to  em- 
brace the  Christian  Religion)  you  are  not  to  admit  any 
Person  to  publick  Trusts  and  Employments  in  the  said 
Province  under  your  Government,  whose  ill  Fame  & 
Conversation  may  occasion  scandal.  And  it  is  Our 
farther  Will  and  Pleasure  that  you  recommend  to  the 
Assembly  to  enter  upon  proper  Metods  for  the  erecting 
and  maintaining  of  Schools,  in  order  to  the  training 
up  of  Youth  to  reading,  and  to  a  necessary  Knowledge 
of  the  Principles  of  Religion. 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  41 

63.  You  shall  send  unto  Us,  and  to  Our  Comm"  for 
Number  of    Trade  and  Plantat"'  by  the  first  conveyance, 
inhabitants.    an  Account  of  the  present  Number  of  Plant- 
ers &  Inhabitants,  Men  Women  and  Children,  as  well 
Masters  as  Servants,  Free  &  Unfree,  and  of  the  Slaves 
in  Our  said  Province,  as  also  a  yearly  Account  of  the 
Increase  or  Decrease  of  them  and  how  many  of  them 
are  fit  to  bear  Arms  in  the  Militia  of  Our  said  Pro- 
vince. 

64.  You  shall  also  cause  an  exact  Account  to   be 
Bins  of  Mor-  kept  of  all  Persons  been  christen'd  &  buried, 

&  you  shall  yearly  send  fair  Abstracts 
thereof  to  Us,  and  to  Our  Commr.8  for  Trade  &  Plan- 
tations as  afores?' 

65.  You  shall  take  care  that  all  Planters  &  Christian 
Militia       Servants  be  well  &  fitly  provided  with  arms 

&  that  they  be  listed  under  good  Officers,  &  when  and 
as  often  as  shall  be  thought  fit,  muster'd  &  trained, 
whereby  they  may  be  in  a  better  readiness  for  the 
Defence  of  Our  said  Province,  under  your  Govern- 
ment. 

66.  You  are  to  take  especial  care  that  neither  the 
Marches.  MUS-  frequency  nor    unreasonableness    of  their 

tere&c-  Marches,  Musters  and  Trainings  be  an  un- 
necessary Impediment  to  the  Affairs  of  the  Inhab- 
itants. 

67.  You  shall    not  upon   any  Occasion  whatsoever 
Law  Martial    establish  or  put  in  Execution  any  Articles 
of  Wai-  or  other  Law  Martial  upon  any  of  Our  Sub- 
jects, Inhabitants  of  Our  said  Province,  without  the 
Advice  &  Consent  of  Our  Council  there. 

•'»*.  And  whereas  there  is  no  Power  given  you  by 
your  Comm"  to  execute  Martial  Law  in  time  of  Peace 
upon  Soldiers  in  pay,  &  that  nevertheless  it  may  be 
necessary  that  some  Care  be  taken  for  the  keeping  of 
good  Discipline  amongst  those  that  we  may  at  any 
time  think  fit  to  send  into  Our  said  Province,  (which 


42         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.    [1738 

may  properly  be  provided  for  by  the  Legislative  Power 
of  the  same)  you  are  therefore  to  recom'end  to  the 
Gen!  Assembly  of  Our  said  Province,  that  they  pre- 
pare such  Act  or  Law  for  the  punishing  of  Mutiny, 
Desertion,  and  false  Musters  &  for  the  better  preserv- 
ing of  good  Dicipline  amongst  the  said  Soldiers  as  may 
best  answer  those  Ends. 

69.  You  are  to    encourage    the  Indians  upon  all 
Indians      Occasions,  so    as  to  Induce  them  to  Trade 

with  Our  Subjects,  rather  with  any  others  of  Eu- 
rope. 

70.  And  for  the  greater  Security  of  Our  Province  of 
New    Jersey,   you  are    to    appoint  fit    Officers  and 
Commanders  in  the    several  parts  of  the  Country 
officers  to  be  bordering  upon  the  Indians,  who  upon  any 
the^fence^f  Invasion  may  raise  Men  &  Arms  to  oppose 
the  Province  them,   until  they  shall  receive  your  Direc- 
tions therein. 

71.  And  whereas  you  will  receive  from  Our  Commr.8 
for  executing  the  Office  of  High  Admiral  of  Great 
vice    Admir-  Britain  &  of  Our  Plantations  a  Comm°  of 

Vice  Admiralty  of  Our  said  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  you  are  hereby  required  &  directed  care- 
fully to  put  in  Execution  the  sev!  Powers  thereby 
granted  you. 

72.  Whereas  great    Inconveniencies  have  happen'd 
by  Merchants  Ships  &  other  Vessels  in  the  Plantations, 
wearing  the  Colours  born  by  Our  Ships  of  War  under 
Pretence  of  Commissions  granted  them  by  the  Gov- 
ernors of  the  said   Plantations   and  that  by  trading 
under  those  Colours  not  only  amongst  Our  own  Sub- 
jects, but  also  those  of  other  Princes  &  States,  and 
com'itting  diver'se  Irregularities,  they  do  very  much 
dishonour  Our  Service,   for  Prevention  whereof,  you 

colours,    are  to  oblige  the  Commanders  of  all  such 
Ships  to  which  you  shall  grant  Commissions,  to  wear 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  43 

no  other  Jack  than  according  to  the  Sample  here 
described  that  is  to  say,  such  as  is  worn 
by  Our  Ships  of  War,  with  the  Distinc- 
tion of  a  white  Escutcheon  in  the  mid- 
die  thereof,  and  that  the  said  Mark  of 
Distinction  may  extend  itself  to  one  half 
of  the  depth  of  the  Jack,  &  one  third  part 
of  y  Fly  thereof. 

73.  And  whereas  there  have  been  great  Irregulari- 
ties in  the  manner  of  granting  Commissions  in  the 

Manner  or     Plantations  to  Private  Ships  of  War,  you 
missions      are  to  govern  yourself  whenever  there  shall 
be  occasion,  according  to  the  Commissions  and  In- 
structions granted  in  this  Kingdom,   Copies  whereof 
will  be  herewith  deliver'd  you. 

74.  But    you  are    not    to    grant    Commissions    of 
commission    Marque  or  Reprizals  against  any  Prince  or 

°  Repeal  °r  State,  or  their  subjects  in  Amity  with  Us, 
to  any  Person  whatsoever  without  Our  especial  Com- 
mand. 

75.  Whereas  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  We  be 
state  of  De-  exactly  infomi'd  of  the  State  of  Defence  of 

all  Our  Plantations  in  America,  as  well  in 
the  relation  to  the  Stores  of  War  that  are  in  each 
Plantation  as  to  the  Forts  and  Fortifications  there, 
and  what  more  may  be  necessary  to  be  built  for  the 
Defence  and  Security  of  the  same;  You  are  so  soon  as 
possible  to  prepare  an  Account  thereof,  with  relation 
to  Our  said  Province  of  Nova  Casarea  or  New  Jersey, 
in  the  most  particular  Manner,  and  you  are  therein  to 
express  the  present  State  of  the  Arms,  Ammunition 
&  other  Stores  of  War  belonging  to  the  Province, 
either  in  any  publick  Magazines  or  in  Hands  of  pri- 
vate Persons,  together  with  the  State  of  all  Pla< .  -. 
either  already  fortified  or  that  you  judge  necessary  to 
be  fortified  for  the  Security  of  Our  said  Province,  and 
you  are  to  transmit  the  said  Accounts  to  Us  and  to 


44  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

Our  Commissioners  for  Trade  &  Plantations,  as  also  a 
Duplicate  thereof  to  Our  Master  Gen1,  or  Principal 
Officers  of  Our  Ordnance;  Which  Accounts  are  to 
express  the  particulars  of  Ordnance,  Carriages,  Ball, 
Powder,  and  all  other  Sorts  of  Arms  &  Ammunition 
in  Our  publick  Stores  at  your  said  Arrival,  and  so  from 
time  to  time,  of  what  shall  be  sent  to  you  or  bought 
with  Publick  money,  and  to  specify  the  time  of  the 
Disposal  &  the  Occasion  '  thereof,  and  other  like 
Accounts  half  yearly  in  the  same  Manner. 

76  You  are  to  take  especial  care  that  fit  Store  houses 
store  houses,  be  settled  throughout  Our  said  Province  for 
receiving  and  keeping  of  Arms  Ammunition  &  other 
publick  Stores. 

77.  And  in  case  of  any  Distress  of  any  of  Our  Plan- 
tations, you  shall  upon  application  of  the  respective 

Assistance  to  Governors  to  you,  assist  them  with  what 
Neighbours,  ^j<j  ^he  Condition  and  safety  of  your  Govern- 
ment will  permit,  and  more  particularly  in  case  Our 
Province  of  New  York,  be  at  any  time  attack'd  by  an 
Enemy,  the  Assistance  you  are  to  contribute  towards 
the  Defence  thereof,  whether  in  Men  or  Money,  is  to 
be  according  to  the  Quota  or  Eepartition  which  has 
already  been  signified  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Our  fores'? 
Province  under  your  Government  or  according  to  such 
other  Regulation,  as  we  shall  hereafter  make  in  that 
Behalf,  and  shall  signify  to  you,  or  the  Commander  in 
Chief  of  Our  said  Province  for  the  time  being. 

78.  And  whereas  the  Preservation  of  the  Northern 
Frontiers  of  Our  Province  of  New  York  against  the 

contribu-  Attemps  of  any  Enemy  by  Land  is  of  great 
Si  o°frN^w  Importance  to  the  Security  of  Our  other 
York.  Northern  Plantations  on  the  Continent  of 

America,  and  more  especially  of  Our  said  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  which  lies  so  near  adjoining  to  Our  Prov- 
ince of  New  York,  and  the  Charge  of  erecting  and 
repairing  the  Fortifications,  &  of  the  maintaining  the 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  45 

Soldiers  necessary  for  the  Defence  of  the  same,  is  too 
great  to  he  born  by  the  single  Province  of  New  York, 
without  due  Contributions  from  others  concern'd 
therein,  for  which  Reason  we  have  upon  several  Occa- 
sions required  such  Contributions  to  be  made,  and 
accordingly  settled  a  Quota,  to  regulate  the  Propor- 
tions thereof;  You  are  therefore  to  take  further  Care 
to  dispose  the  Gen1  Assembly  of  Our  said  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  to  the  raising  of  such  other  Supplies,  as  are 
or  may  be  necessary  for  the  Defence  of  Our  Province  of 
New  York,  according  to  the  Signification  of  Our  Will 
and  Pleasure  therein  already  made  to  the  Inhabitants 
of  New  Jersey,  or  which  shall  at  any  Time  hereafter 
be  made  to  you  Our  Governor  or  to  the  Commander  in 
chief  of  Our  said  Province  for  the  time  being. 

79.  You  shall  transmit  unto  Us  and  to  Our  Com- 
A  Map.        miss"  for  Trade  &  Plantations,  by  the  first 

Opportunity  a  Map,  with  the  exact  Description  of  Our 
whole  Territory  under  your  Government,  and  of  the 
several  Plantations  that  are  upon  it. 

80.  You  are  from  time  to  time  to  give  an  Account, 
strength  of  as  before  directed  what  Strength  your  bor- 

Netehboure.  dering  Neighbours  have,  be  they  Indians  or 
others,  by  Sea  and  Land,  and  of  the  Condition  of  their 
Plantations,  and  what  Correspondence  you  do  keep 
with  them. 

81.  You  are  likewise  to  examine  what   Kates  and 
Rates*  DU-  Duties  are  charged  and  payable  upon  any 

tte8  Goods,   imported  or   exported  within   Our 

Province  of  Nova  Casarea  or  New  Jersey,  whether  of 
the  Growth  or  Manufacture  of  Our  said  Province  or 
otherwise,  and  you  are  to  suppress  the  engross1?  of 
Commodities  as  tending  to  the  Prejudice  of  that  Free- 
dom, which  Trade  &  Commerce  ought  to  have,  and  to 
use  your  best  Endeavours  for  the  Improvement  of 
Trade  in  those  Parks,  by  setting  such  Orders  and 
Regulations,  therein,  with  the  advice  of  the  Council  a> 


46  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

may  be  most  acceptable  to  the  Genrality  of  the  Inhab- 
itants. 

82.  You  are  fco  give  all  due  Encouragement  and  Invi- 
Trade.         tation  to    Merchants  &    others,  who  shall 

bring  Trade  unto  Our  said  Province,  or  any  way  con- 
tribute to  the  Advantage  thereof,  and  in  particular  to 
theRoyal  African  Compy  and  other  Our  Subjects  trad- 
ing to  Africa.  And  whereas  we  are  willing  to  recom- 
mend unto  the  said  Company,  and  other  Our  Subjects 
that  the  said  Province* may  have  constant  and  sufficient 
Supply  of  Merchantable  Negroes  at  moderate  Rates,  in 
money  or  Commodities,  so  you  are  to  take  especial 
Care  that  Payment  be  duely  made,  and  within  a  com- 
petent Time  according  to  their  Agreements. 

83.  And  we  do  further  expressly  command  and  r.e- 
Number  of  <luire  7°u  to  give  unto  Us  &  to  Our  Comm" 

Negroes  im-   for  Trade  and  Plantations  an  Account  every 
half  year  of  what  Number  of  Negroes  Our 
said  Province  is  yearly  supplied  with,  that  is  what 
number  by  the  African  Company,  and  what  by  sepa- 
rate Traders  and  at  what  Rates  sold. 

84.  Whereas  we  have  been  informed  that  during  the 
intelligence  Time  of  War  Our  Enemies  have  frequently 

given  to  Ene-  got  Intelligence  of  the  State  of  Our  Planta- 
tions by  Letters  from  private  Persons  to 
their  Correspondents  in  Great  Britain,  taken  on  Board 
Ships  coming  from  the  Plantations,  which  may  be  of 
dangerous  Consequence  if  not  prevented  for  the  future, 
Our  Witt  &  Pleasure  is,  that  you  signify  to  all  Mer- 
chants, Planters,  and  others,  that  they  be  very  cautious 
in  time  of  War,  in  giving  any  Account  by  Letters,  of 
the  Publick  State  and  Condition  of  Our  said  Province 
of  New  Jersey,  and  you  are  further  to  give  Directions 
to  all  Masters  of  ships,  or  other  Persons  to  whom  you 
may  entrust  your  Letters,  that  they  put  such  Letters 
in  a  Bag,  with  a  sufficient  Weight  to  sink  the  same, 
im'ediately  in  case  of  imminent  Danger  from  the 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  47 

Enemy.  And  you  are  also  to  let  the  Merchants  and 
Planters  Know  how  greatly  it  is  for  their  Interest,  that 
their  Letters  should  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
Enemy  And  therefore  that  they  should  give  the  like 
Orders  to  the  Masters  of  Ships  in  relation  to  their  Let- 
ters, and  you  are  further  to  advise  all  Masters  of  Ships, 
that  they  do  sink  all  Letters  in  Case  of  Danger  in  the 
manner  before  mention'd. 

85.  And  whereas  in  the  late  War  the  Merchants  & 
correspond-    planters  d'id  Correspond  and  Trade  with  Our 

ence  with  * 

Enemies.  Enemies  and  carry  Intelligence  to  them,  to 
the  great  Prejudice  &  Hazard  of  the  English  Planta- 
tions, you  are  therefore  by  all  possible  Methods  to 
endeavour  to  hinder  all  such  Trade  and  Correspondence 
in  time  of  War. 

86.  Whereas  by  the  fifth  and  sixth  Articles  of  the 
Treaty  of  Peace  &  Neutrality  in  America,  concluded 
between  England  &  France  the  A  Day  of  November 
1686,  the  Subjects,  Inhabitants  &c  of  each  Kingdom 
are  Prohibited  to  Trade  &  Fish  in  all  places  possess'd 
or  which  shall  be  possess'd  by  the  other  in  America, 
and  that  if  any  Ships  shall  be  found  trading  contrary 
to  the  said  Treaty,  upon  due  Proof,  the  said  Ships  shall 
be  confiscated,  But  in  case  the  Subjects  of  either  King 
shall  be  forced  by  Stress  of  Weather,  Enemies  or  other 
Necessity  into  the  Ports  of  the  other,  in  America,  they 
shall  be  treated  with  Humanity  and  Kindness,  and 
may  provide  themselves   with   Victuals,    and    other 
things  necessary  for  their  Sustenace  &  Reparation  of 
their  Ships,  at  reasonable  Rates;  provided  they  do  not 
break  Bulk,  nor  carry  any  Goods  out  of  their  Ships, 
exposing  them  to  sale,  nor  receive  any  Merchandize  on 
Board  under  Penallty  of  Confiscation  of  Ships  &  Goods, 
Notwithstanding  which    Treaty,   We    are   given    to 
understand  that  an  illegal  Trade  has  been  carried  on 
between  Our  Plantations  and  the  French  Settlements 
in  America,  on  pretence  that  there  is  no  Law  in  force 


48  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

against  such  Trade,  It  is  therefore  Our  Will  &  Pleas- 
ure that  you  signify  to  Our  Subjects  under  your  Gov- 
ernment, the  Purport  and  Intent  of  the  aforesaid  two 
Articles,  and  that  you  take  particular  Care  that  the 
same  be  punctually  observ'd  and  put  in  Execution,  and 
that  no  Illegal  Trade  be  carried  on  between  Our  Sub- 
jects in  Our  Province  of  New  Jersey  under  your 
Government  &  the  French  Settlements  in  America,  by 
any  of  Our  Ships  of  War,  attending  that  Province,  or 
by  any  other  British  Ships,  as  likewise  that  none  of 
the  French  Subjects  be  allow'd  to  trade  from  their 
Settlements  to  New  Jersey. 

87.  Whereas  we  have  thought  it  Necessary  for  Our 
Receiver  Gen'  Service  to  constitute  and  appoint  a  Receiver 
of  Admiralty  Gen1,  of  the  Rights  &  Perquisites  of  the 

mghts>  Admiralty;  It  is  therefore  Our  Will  & 
Pleasure,  that  you  be  aiding  &  Assisting  to  the 
Receiver  Gen!  his  Deputy  or  Deputies  in  the  Execution 
of  the  said  Office  of  Receiver  Gen1  and  We  do  hereby 
require  &  enjoin  you  to  make  up  your  Accounts  with 
him,  his  Deputy  or  Deputies  of  all  Rights  of  Admi- 
ralty (Effects  of  Pirates  included)  as  your  Officers  have 
or  shall  or  may  receive,  and  to  pay  over  to  the  said 
Receiver  Gen1,  his  Deputy  or  Deputies  for  Our  Use  all 
Such  Sum  or  Sums  of  Money  as  shall  appear  on  the 
Foot  of  such  Ace*8  to  be  &  remain  in  your  Hands  or  in 
the  Hands  of  any  of  your  Officers.  And  whereas  Our 
said  Receiver  Gen1-  is  directed,  in  case  the  Parties 
chargeable  with  any  part  of  such  Our  Revenue,  refuse, 
neglect  or  delay  Payment  thereof,  by  himself  or  suffi- 
cient Deputy,  to  apply  to  Our  Governors,  Judges, 
Attornies  Gen!,  or  any  other  Our  Officers  or  Magis- 
trates to  be  aiding  &  assisting  to  him  in  recovering  the 
same.  It  is  therefore  Our  Will  &  Pleasure,  that  you 
Our  Governor,  Our  Judges  Our  Attornies  Gen!  and  all 
other  Our  Officers  whom  the  same  may  concern  do 
use  all  Lawfull  Authority  for  the  recovering  and  levy- 
ing thereof. 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  49 

88.  You  are  likewise  from  time  to  time  to  give  unto 
wonts  &  De-  Us  &  to  Our  Commr§  for  Trade  &  Planta- 

fects  tions,  as  aforesaid,  an  Account  of  the  Wants 
and  Defects  of  Our  said  Province;  what  are  the  chief 
Products  thereof,  what  New  Improvements  are  made 
therein  by  the  Industry  of  the  Inhabitants  or  Planters, 
and  what  further  Improvements  you  conceive  may  be 
made,  or  advantages  gain'd  by  Trade  and  in  what 
Manner  we  may  best  advance  the  same. 

89.  Our    Will  &  Pleasure  is,  that  for  the  better 
Grants  of     Quieting  the  Minds  of  Our  Good  Subjects, 

Lands.  Inhabitants  of  Our  said  Province,  and  for 
settling  the  Properties  &  Possessions  of  all  Persons  con- 
cern'd  therein,  either  as  Gen1.  Proprietors  of  the  Soil, 
under  the  first  Original  Grant  of  the  said  Province, 
made  by  the  late  King  Charles  the  second  to  the  late 
Duke  of  York,  or  as  particular  Purchasers  of  any  Par- 
cels of  Land  from  the  said  Gen!  Proprietors;  You  shall 
propose  to  the  General  Assembly,  of  Our  said  Province, 
the  passing  of  such  Act  or  Acts,  whereby  the  Right 
and  Property  of  the  said  Gen1  Proprietors  of  the  Soil 
of  Our  said  Province,  may  be  confirmed  to  them, 
according  to  their  respective  Rights  &  Titles,  together 
with  all  such  Quit -Rents  as  have  been  reserv'd  or  are 
or  shall  become  due  to  the  said  Gen1.  Proprietors,  from 
the  Inhabitants  of  Our  said  Province,  and  all  such 
Priviledges  as  are  expressed  in  the  Conveyances  made 
by  the  said  Duke  of  York,  excepting  only  the  Right  of 
Government,  which  remains  in  us;  And  you  are  fur- 
ther to  take  care,  that  by  the  said  Act  or  Acts  so  to  be 
pass'd,  the  Particular  Titles  &  Estates  of  all  the 
Inhabitants  of  that  Province,  and  other  Purchasers 
claiming  under  the  said  Gen!  Proprietors  be  confirm'd 
and  settled,  as  of  Right  does  appertain,  under  such 
Obligations,  as  shall  tend  to  the  best  &  speediest 
Improvement  or  Cultivation  of  the  same:  Provided 
5 


50  ADMINISTRATION  Of  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

always  that  you  do  not  consent  to  any  Act  or  Acts  to 
lay  any  Tax  upon  unprofitable  Lands. 

90.  You  shall  not  permit  any  other  Person  or  Per- 
sons besides  the  said  Gen1.  Proprietors  or  their  Agents 
to  purchase  any  Lands  whatsoever  from  the  Indians, 
within  the  Limits  of  their  Grant. 

91.  You  are  to  permit  the  Surveyors  and  other  Per- 
surveyorsof  sons  appointed  by  the  foremention'd  Gen! 

Land.  Proprietors  of  the  Soil  of  that  Province  for 
surveying  and  recording  the  Surveys  of  Land  granted 
by  &  held  of  them  to  execute  accordingly  their  respect- 
ive Trusts.  And  you  are  likewise  to  permit  &  if  need 
be,  aid  and  assist  such  other  Agent  or  Agents  as  shall 
be  appointed  by  the  said  Proprietors  for  that  End,  to 
collect  and  receive  the  Quit-Rents  which  are  or  shall 
be  due  unto  them  from  the  particular  Possessors  of 
any  Parcels  or  Tracts  of  Land  from  time  to  time,  Pro- 
vided always  that  such  Surveyors  Agents  or  other 
Officers  appointed  by  the  said  Gen!  Proprietors  do  not 
only  take  proper  Oaths  for  the  due  Execution  &  Per- 
formance of  their  respective  Offices  or  Employments 
and  give  good  &  Sufficient  Security  for  their  so  doing, 
but  that  they  likewise  take  the  Oaths,  mention'd  in  the 
aforesaid  Act,  intituled  an  Act,  for  the  further  Secur- 
ity of  his  Majesty's  Person  and  Government  &  the 
Succession  of  the  Crown  in  the  Heirs  of  the  late  Prin- 
ces8. Sophia  being  Protestants,  and  for  extinguishing 
the  Hopes  of  the  pretended  Prince  of  Wales  and  his 
open  &  secret  Abettors,  as  also  make  and  subscribe  the 
Declaration  aforesf  and  you  are  more  particularly  to 
take  care  that  all  Lands  purchased  from  the  caid  Pro 
prietors  be  cultivated  &  improved  by  the  Possessors 
thereof  and  you  are  to  take  care  that  no  Fees  be  exacted 
or  taken  by  any  of  the  Officers  under  you,  for  the  Grants 
of  Land,  made  by  the  Agents  of  the  Proprietors,  which 
Agents  are  to  deliver  over  to  you  in  Council,  Dupli- 
cates of  all  such  Grants  to  be  registered  in  Our  Council 
Books. 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  51 

92.  And  if  any  thing  shall  happen  that  may  be  of 
°°vr*o£ower   Advantage  and  Security  to  Our  said  Pro- 
Emergencies,   vince  which  is  not  herein  or  by  Our  Com- 
mission provided  for,  We  do  hereby  allow  unto  you, 
with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  Our  Council,  to  take 
Order  for  the  present  therein,  going  [giving?  ]  unto  Us 
by  One  of  Our  Principal  Secretaries  of  State  &  to  Our 
CommT.8  for  Trade  &  Plantations  speedy  Notice  thereof 
that  so  you  may  receive  Our  Ratification  if  We  shall 
approve  of  the  same.     Provided  always  that  you  do  not 
by  Colour  of  any  Power  or  Authority  hereby  given 
you,  commence  or  declare  War,  without  Our  Knowl- 
edge &  particular  demands  herein,  except  it  be  against 
Indians,  upon  emergencies,  wherein  the  Consent  of 
Our  Council  shall  be  had,  &  speedy  Notice  given  there- 
of unto  us  as  aforesaid. 

93.  And  you  are  upon  all  Occasions  to  send  unto  us 

by  One  of  Our  principal  Secretaries  of  State 

proceeding   an(i  to  Our  Comr*  for  Trade  and  Plant?  a 

to  be       particular  Ace*  of  all  your  Proceedings  & 

Transmitted.     *         ,.  ,.,.  »      *  *»   •  •,.  • 

of   the  Condition  of    Affairs  within  your 
Government. 


Letter  from  William  Wood  to  the  Lords  of  Trade- 
relative  to  the  issuing  of  Paper  Money  in  the 
Plantations. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General,  No.  10,  N.  81.] 

Letter  from  Mr  Wood,  to  the  Board,  inclosing 
a  Proposal  for  Extending  &  Enlarging  y* 
Trade  &  Navigation  of  this  Kingdom,  & 
for  the  bettf  Peopling  the  British  Planta- 
tions, by  remedying  the  present  Mischiefs 
&  Inconveniencies  attending  the  Com- 


52  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

merce  of  ye  Plantations,  from  the  practice 
of  late  Years,  in  the  Issuing  of  Paper- 
Money,  &  in  the  Raising  of  the  Coin. 

Whitehall,  June  218r  1738. 
B*  Honb.le  The  Lords  For  Trade  and  Plantations 

My  Lords. 

The  many  Complaints,  which  have  been  made  to 
the  Crown,  as  well  as  to  Your  Lordships,  relating  to 
Paper-Bills  issued  in  so  many  of  the  Plantations  in 
America,  having  induced  me  to  imploy  my  Thoughts 
to  remedy  an  Evil,  which,  so  far  as  I  have  considered 
the  Affair,  must  necessarily  prevent  the  Prosperity  of 
the  Plantations,  as  well  as  the  Increase  of  the  Trade 
of  this  Kingdom,  I  presume  to  send  Your  Lordships 
what  has  been  the  Eesult  of  the  Time  I  have  imployed 
on  this  Subject;  and  if  Your  Lordships,  upon  reading 
this  Proposal,  shall  think  it  worthy  Your  Considera- 
tion, but  at  the  same  time  have  any  Objections  to  it 
or  want  any  Explanation  of  it,  If  You  will  direct  Mr 
Hill  to  transmit  them  to  me,  I  will  indeavour  to  give 
Your  Lordships  the  necessary  Satisfaction.  I  have 
not  imparted  this  Paper  to  any  Body  of  Merchants  in 
General,  but  only  occasionally,  to  Three  Gentlemen  of 
this  City,  Two  of  Bristol,  and  Two  of  Leverpool,  and 
to  Each  separately,  who  every  one  so  far  approve  it  as 
to  wish  it  was  carried  into  Execution;  which  I  thought 
proper  to  mention  to  Your  Lordships,  and  am,  with 
the  Greatest  Respect, 

My  Lords, 
Your  Lordships'  most  obedient  humb.le  Serv? 

WOOD. 


A  PROPOSAL  For  the  Extending  and  Enlarging  the 
Trade  and  Navigation  of  this  Kingdom,  And  For  the 
better  Settling  and  Peopling  the  British  Plantations  in 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  53 

America,  by  remedying  the  present  Mischiefs  and 
Inconveniencies  attending  the  Commerce  to  the  Plan- 
tations, from  the  Practice  of  late  Years,  in  the  Issuing 
of  Paper-Money,  and  in  the  Raising  of  the  Coin. 

That be  coined  in  Silver,  One  Third  into 

Crowns  and  Half-Crowns,   One  Third  into  Shillings, 

and   the  Other  Third  into  Sixpences, in 

Gold,  one  Moiety  into  whole  Guineas,  and  the  Other 

Moiety  into  Half-Guineas,  and in  Copper, 

the  whole  coined  One  Fourth  Part  less  in  Value,  or 
less  in  Gold  and  Silver,  than  either  a  Guinea  or  Half 
Guinea,  Crown  or  Half-Crown,  Shilling,  or  Sixpence, 
or  Halfpenny,  is  in  this  Kingdom,  and  to  have  the 
Word  America  stamped  on  each  Piece. 

That,  in  order  to  replace  the  Amount  of  the  Money 
imployed  in  answering  this  Coinage,  and  for  the  intro- 
ducing such  Coin  into  the  British  Plantations,  It  shall 
be  Directed,  First,  That  Part  of  such  Money,  so  coined, 
shall  be  Lodged  in  the  hands  of  the  Paymaster  of  the 
Army,  who  shall  issue  such  Money,  and  no  other,  to 
the  Agents  of  the  Officers,  Soldiers,  and  Garisons,  in 
the  Colonies;    Secondly,   That  another  Part  of   the 
Money,  so  coined,  shall  be  lodged  in  the  hands  of  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  who  shall  issue  such  Money, 
and  no  other,  to  the  Storekeepers,  Agent,  Victuallers, 
Pursers,  and  other  Officers  of  the  Nav  y,  for  answering 
the  Money   wanting  for  the  Service  of  the  Ships  of 
War  stationed  at  the  several  Plantations  in  America; 
And,  Thirdly,  That  any  Person  or  Persons  shall,  upon 
Application  to  the  Officers  of  the  Mint,  or  such  other 
Persons  in  whose  hands  such  Money  shall  be  lodged 
after  its  being  coined,  be  supplied  with  such  other 
Sum  or  Sums  as  he  or  they  may  require,  Paying  for 
the  same  in  the  current  Coin  of  this  Kingdom. 

That  the  Agents  to  the  Soldiers  and  Garisons,  and 
the  Officers  of  the  Navy,  and  all  other  Persons  to 
whom  such  Money,  so  coined,  shall  from  time  to  time 


54  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

be  paid  or  delivered,  shall  enter  into  Bond,  in  a 
Penalty,  to  send  such  Coin  to  one  of  His  Majesty's 
Plantations  in  America,  and  shall  make  an  Entry,  at 
the  Customhouse  of  the  Port  where  it  shall  be  shipped, 
on  what  Ships  or  Vessels  such  Money  shall  be  shipped 
on  board. 

That  the  Money,  so  coined,  shall  pass,  in  all  Pay- 
ments, in  the  several  Colonies  and  Plantations  in 
America,  viz?  a  Crown  for  5?  a  Half -Crown  for  2s,  6d,  a 
shilling  for  12?,  and  a  Sixpence  for  6?  Twelve  Copper 
Halfpence  for  6?  a  Guinea  for  21?  and  a  Half -Guinea 
for  10?  6?  and  not  at  any  other  Denomination,  or  at 
any  greater  or  lesser  Value,  by  Sale  or  otherwise, 
under  a  Penalty. 

That,  from  and  after  the  Payment  for 

the  Goods,  bought  and  sold,  and  for  all  Contracts 
made  and  entered  into,  shall,  in  the  several  British 
Colonies  and  Plantations  in  America,  be  accounted  for, 
at  or  in  proportion,  and  according  to j  the  Rate  and 
Value  of  this  Coin. 

That  such  Coin,  imported  into  any  of  the  Colo- 
nies, may  be  Exported  to  any  other  Colony,  and  also 
to  this  Kingdom,  but  shall  not  be  Exported  to  any  the 
French,  Dutch,  Spanish,  or  any  other  Foreign  King- 
dom or  Settlements. 

That  said  Coin  shall  not  pass  in  payment  in  this 
Kingdom,  or  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  but  the  Pay- 
master of  the  Army,  or  Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  shall 
be  obliged  to  exchange  any  Sum  or  Sums  on  applica- 
tion, by  giving  the  Coin  of  this  Kingdom  for  the  same. 

That  no  other  Coin  than  this  Coin,  whether  British, 
French,  or  Spanish,  or  any  other  Country,  shall  pass 
in  payment  in  any  of  the  British  Plantations,  by  Sale, 
or  otherwise  than  by  Weight. 

That  every  Person  or  Persons,  in  any  of  the  Colonies, 
receiving  a  Consignment  or  Parcel  of  this  Coin  from 
this  Kingdom,  shall  make  an  Entry  of  the  Quantity  on 
his  Importation  of  the  same  in  the  Colonies. 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOKRIX.  55 

That  no  Person  shall  Export  any  of  this  Coin  from 
one  Plantation  to  another,  or  from  any  of  the  Planta- 
tions to  this  Kingdom,  without  Entering  the  same, 
Nor  any  Person  receive  a  Consignment  or  Parcel  of 
this  Coin  from  any  one  of  the  Colonies  without  Enter- 
ing the  same. 

That,  from  and  after  the  no  Person  or  Persons 

shall  be  obliged  to  take  or  receive  for  any  Debt  or  De- 
mand, either  due  from  the  Publick  or  any  Person 
whatsoever,  any  Bills  of  Credit,  or  other  Currency  of 
Paper,  Created  and  Issued  by  virtue  of  any  Act  or 
Acts  of  Assembly,  or  any  other  Publick  Authority: 
And,  in  Case  Provision  shall  not  be  made,  on  or  be- 
fore the  said  by  some  Act  or  Acts  of  Assembly 
or  other  Publick  Authority,  For  the  Sinking  or  Dis- 
charging of  such  Bills  of  Credit  or  Paper  Currency, 
according,  and  in  proportion,  to  the  Value  or  Rate  of 
the  Coin  hereby  Directed  and  Required  to  transmit  to 
His  Majesty's  Principal  Secretaries  of  State,  or  to  the 
Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations,  an 
Account  of  the  Bills  which  may  remain  unprovided 
for,  and  the  Interest,  if  any,  which  may  be  Due  there- 
upon, with  an  Account  when  such  Bills  were  severally 
issued,  what  Rate  the  Currency  was  at  the  time  of 
their  issuing,  and  what  such  Rate  of  Currency  may  be 
in  value  to  the  Coin  hereby  Established,  to  be  I^aid 
before  both  Houses  of  Parliament. 

And,  whereas  many  Debts  are  owing  in  these  Col- 
onies, contracted  when  the  Currency  was  at  very  dif- 
ferent Rates  or  values,  Therefore,  for  the  Ascertaining 
a  just  Equality  in  the  Payment  of  such  Debts  between 
the  Debtor  and  Creditor,  That  the  Debts,  contracted 
at  any  time  before  the  shall  he  accounted  for,  or 

paid,  at  or  in  proportion,  or  according,  to  the  Rate  or 
Value  which  the  Money  of  each  Colony  where  the  Debt 
was  contracted,  shall,  or  may,  be  to  the  Value  or  Rate 
of  this  Coin. 


I 

56  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 


From     Governor    Morris    to  the  Lords  of  Trade- 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  Commission,  etc. 

LFrom  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  4,  F.  31.1 

Letter  from  Mr  Morris,  Govr  of  New  Jersey, 
giving  Account  of  -his  having  published 
his  Commission,  the  people  rejoice  at  hav- 
ing a  Distinct  Govf  from  N.  York,  and 
hope  to  have  a  Trade  to  Great  Britain 
directly  to  New  Jersey,  Rec*  Octoer  26fc.h 
1738. 

Perth  Amboy,  Septr  ye  11th  1738. 

My  Lords. 

I  did  on  the  261.11  of'  August  receive  his  Majesties 
Letters  Patent  appointing  me  Governor  of  New  Jersie, 
I  published  them  at  Amboy  on  the  29^  and  at  Bur- 
lington a  few  days  afterwards. 

The  People  are  greatly  pleas'd  with  being  governed 
by  a  different  person  from  the  Governor  of  New  York; 
and  cannot  sufficiently  express  their  Obligations  to 
his  Majestie  and  his  Ministers  for  that  favour.  I  have 
ordred  writs  for  the  Election  of  an  assembly  which 
is  to  meet  on  the  26*  of  October;  and  if  a  Judgment  is 
is  to  be  form'd  from  the  Generall  satisfaction  that  at 
present  appeares,  I  am  not  without  hopes  of  a  good 
Issue  from  their  meeting. 

They  have  warm  desires,  and  are  big  with  hopes  of 
carrying  on  a  trade  directly  with  great  Britain,  instead 
of  recieving  European  Commodities  from  their  neigh- 
bours of  Boston,  New  York  and  Pensilvania.  I  am 
not  yet  acquainted  with  their  schemes;  but  hope  I  do 
not  Err  in  wishing  that  the  Success  may  answer  the 
expectation;  Tho  I  feare  it  will  be  a  work  of  more  time 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  57 

than  they  suppose  it  will  require  to  bring  it  to 
the  desired  effect.  If  they  continue  in  the  Same  mind 
when  I  know  the  methods  they  propose  I  shall  com- 
municate them  to  your  Lordships  for  your  farther 
commands  and  in  this  and  in  every  thing  elce  will 
endeavour  that  my  Conduct  Shall  be  such  as  will  pre- 
vail upon  your  Lordships  to  entertain  a  favourable 
opinion  of 

My  Lords 

Your  Lordships  most   Obedient  and  most 

humble  Servant 


To  the  Right  honb.le  the    Lords  Coinm'-8  for  Trade  & 
plantations. 


From  Governor  Morris  to    the  Duke  of  Newcastle- 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  Commission. 

(From  P.  P.  O.  America  &  West  Indies  Vol.  IS,  p.  62 J 

Perth  Amboy  in  N.  Jersey,  Septf  11*  1738 

May  it  please  Your  Grace 

I  did  on  y*  26th  of  August  recieve  by  Captain  Pearse 
his  Majesties  Letters  Patent.  Constituting  me  Gov- 
ernour  of  New  Jersie,  which  I  published  at  Amboy  on 
the  29th  following,  and  at  Burlington  a  few  days 
afterwards.  The  People  are  highly  pleased  with 
being  to  be  governed  by  a  person  distinc1  from  the 
Governor  of  New  York;  and  1  have  on  every  Occasion 
endeavoured  to  make  them  sensible  how  much  they  are 
Oblig'd  to  his  Majestie  and  his  Ministers  for  so  con- 
siderable a  favour. 

I  beg  that  Your  Grace  will  give  my  humble  thanks 


58  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1738 

to  his  Majestie  for  the  honour  he  has  done  me  in 
Appointing  me  their  Governour.  I  will  Endeavour  to 
behave  agreeably  to  the  great  trust  reposed  in  me ; 
And  to  shew  that  his  Majesties  favours  are  not 
conferr'd  upon  an  unsuitable  Object. 

I  should  be  wanting  in  my  duty,  Should  I  not  on 
this  head  Own  my  Obligations  to  Your  Grace.  I 
presume  humbly  to  beg  the  continuance  of  Your 
Favours,  in  making  favourable  representations  of  my 
Conduct  to  his  Majestie;  which  I  will  endevour  Shall 
be  such  as  may  prevail  upon  Your  Grace  to  be  the 
patron  of 

May  it  Please  your  Grace 

Yours  Graces  most  Obliged  and 
most  Obedient  humble  Servant 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 
To  the  R*  Hon'ble  his  Grace  duke  of  new  castle  &c. 


An  Address  to  the  King  from  the  Council  and  Repre- 
sentatives of  New  Jersey — Thanking  him  for 
giving  New  Jers^y^a  separate  Governor. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  America  &  West  Indies,  Vol.  12,  p.  61.1 

To  HIS  MOST  EXCELLENT  MAJESTY  GEORGE  the 
second  by  the  'Grace  of  God  of  Great 
Britain  France  and  Ireland  King  Defen- 
dor  of  the  Faith  &c. 

The  most  humble  Address  of  Your  Majesty's 
Council  and  the  Representatives  of  Your 
Majesties  Province  of  Nova  Ccesarea  or 
New  Jersey  in  Generall  Assembly  Con- 
vened. 

Most  Gracious  Sovereign 

Wee  Your  Majesties  most  dutifull  and  Loyall  Sub- 
jects, Do  humbly  beg  leave  to  acknowledge  to  Your 


1738]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  OOVEKXOH  LEWIS  MOKU1S.  59 

Majesty  our  most  hearty  and  sincere  thanks,  for  your 
having,  at  Our  earnest  Petition,  appointed  a  Person 
to  govern  this  Province  solely,  a  ffavour  truly  great! 
and  which  we  recieve  as  a  farther  Testimony,  that  the 
remotest  of  your  Majesties  Subjects  are  equally  the 
Objects  of  your  Royal  Care,  protection  and  Benevo- 
lence. 

From  hence  We  hope  to  see  Trade  and  Commerce 
fflourish,  and  Justice  more  duly  and  Speedily  Admin- 
istered, among  us,  Blessings!  which  will  make  us 
happy,  Encrease  the  Number  of  Your  Majesties  sub- 
jects here,  and  enable  us  from  time  to  time  honourably 
to  Support  the  Government  in  all  its  parts. 

Permit  us  also  most  humbly  to  acknowledge  our 
satisfaction  in  the  Gentleman  whom  your  Majesty  has 
on  this  occasion  appointed  to  Represent  your  Royal 
Person  here  His  know  [n]  Justice,  Integrity  and  Impar- 
tiallity  in  his  several  former  Stations,  has  render'd 
him  most  acceptable  to  us,  His  perseverance  therein 
and  Our  Loyalty  and  Gratitude  to  your  Majesty,  the 
best  of  Kings,  will  be  the  Inducements  to  continue 
your  Royal  Grace  and  Favour,  both  towards  Him  and 
us. 

That  Your  Majesty  may  long  Live  and  Reign,  Tri- 
umphant over  all  your  Enemies,  The  darling  and 
beloved  Object,  of  aU  your  Subjects  Care  and  Vener- 
ation, and  blessed  in  a  numerous  Offspring,  is  the 
Prayer  of 

Divers  of  the 

Members  of  May  it   please   Your   Majesty 

£££££  Your  Majesties    most  DutifuU 

called  Quakers  and  Loyal  Subjects 

£££i?s5:  ByOrderoftheCouncill 

stance  of  the  JOHN   HAMILTON   Sp' 

bTJaTsTe  By  Order  of  the  House  of  (Representatives 
Exception  to  JOSEPH  BENNET  [Bonnell?]  Spea' 

Stile. 


60  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 


Letter  from  Governor  Morris  to  Sir  Charles  Wager, ' 
First  Lord  Commissr.  of  the  Treasury — relating  to 
the  affairs  of  New  Jersey  and  New  York, 

[From  Original  Letter-book,  of  Gov.  Morris,  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society 

Library.] 

AMBOY  May  10?  1739. 

Right  honble 

I  acknowledge  the  honr  of  yours  of  the  15"1  of  Jan'y 
&  11th  of  december.  I  thank  you  for  the  favours  Ex. 
press'd  in  both  of  them,  my  poor  daughter  is  under 
the  greatest  Obligation  to  you  concerning  her  pension 
&  if  She  recovers  the  great  fatigue  of  attending  a  sick 
Husband  (wch  I  am  told  kept  her  constantly  out  of  bed 
(Except  three  nights)  both  during  the  Voyage  and 
after  it)  She  cannot  faile  of  returning  those  gratefull 
Sentiments  She  is  at  present  with  So  much  reason 
possess'd  of— 

I  thank  you  for  ye  favourable  Sentiments  you  ex- 
press of  my  Speech"  I  spoke  my  reall  thoughts;  &  if  a 
Judgment  were  to  be  form'd  from  the  Assembly's 
address  upon  it  (wch  was  long  a  comming)  and  from 
the  addresses  from  all  parts  of  the  Province  I  had  rea- 
son to  Expect  every  thing  I  could  fairly  desire,  but,  I 
cannot  as  yet  Say  the  Success  has  answered  the  Expec- 


1  SIR  CHARLES  WAGER— This  Baronet,  with  whom  Governor  Morris  formed  an 
intimate  acquaintance  when  in  England,  and  for  whom  he  cherished  a  sincere 
regard,  stood  high  in  his  profession.  He  was  made  a  Captain  for  his  gallantry  at 
the  battle  of  La  Hague.  In  17'07  he  was  sent  with  a  command  to  the  West  Indies 
where  he  defeated  fourteen  Spanish  galloons  with  only  three  ships.  Queen  Anne  as 
a  reward  for  his  distinguished  services,  knighted  him,  and  promoted  him  to  be  an 
admiral.  His  generosity  was  equal  to  his  heroism.  The  riches  he  acquired  were 
regarded  by  him  only  as  the  means  of  doing  good  both  to  his  relatives  and  to 
persons  in  distress.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of  Parliament  for  Portsmouth  in 
1709,  and  sat  in  every  parliament  there  after  until  his  death.  He  was  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  Navy  Board  in  January,  173^.— See  Collections  New  Jersey  Historical 
Society,  Vol.  IV,  p.  40.— ED. 

a  See  "Papers  of  Governor  Lewis  Morris,"  pp.  36-38.— ED. 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  61 

tation,  &  whether  it  will,  or  no,  requires  Some  time 
to  discover.  There  is  So  much  Insincerity — and  Igno- 
rance— among  the  people  and  withall  so  rooted  a  Jeal- 
ousy of  their  Governours,  &  so  strong  an  Inclination  in 
the  meaniest  of  the  people  (who  are  the  majority  & 
whose  Votes  make  the  Assembly)  to  have  the  Sole 
direction  of  all  the  Affairs  of  the  Government,  &  to 
make  the  Governour,  and  other  officers  Intirely  depend- 
ant on  themselves,  that  it  requires  much  more  temper, 
Skill,  &  constancy  to  overcome  these  difficulties  than 
falls  to  eveiy  man's  share  &  whether  to  be  done  most 
effectually  by  driving,  or  leading  them,  is  difficult  to 
determine.  Each  of  these  have  been  Successfull  in 
their  turns:  &  sometimes  neither.  The  generality  of 
them  Seem  to  have  no  very  quick  Sence  of  honour  or 
of  Shame  &  can  beare  with  indifference  enough  the 
reproaches  of  departing  from  their  words  or  Engage- 
ments whenever  they  think  it  Improper  to  comply  wth 
them;  so  that  their  addresses  like  many  others  are  not 
much  to  be  depended  on  being  rather  the  sence  of 
the  drawers  who  furnish  the  words  &  Paragraphs  & 
may  be  said  to  be  as  little  understood  as  intruding  by 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Addressors;  if  their  conduct 
afterwards  be  a  reason  Sufficient  to  forme  A  Judg- 
ment on;  of  this  their  adress  to  me  (Inclosed  for  your 
perusall)  is  a  Sample  &  I  should  be  glad  I  could  truly 
Say  that  this  bad  made  it  good  in  any  one  point,  & 
here  I  must  not  Omit  doing  the  Justice  to  Say  that  A 
majority  of  the  house  profess'd  to  be  my  friends  &  I 
am  willing  to  believe  an  Equallity  of  them  were  really 
Sincere  &  to  them  (who  Spar'd  no  pains)  is  owing  wl 
has  been  done ;  tho  many  of  their  notions  were  too 
confin'd  &  narrow  to  do  as  much  as  might  Otherwise 
have  been  Expected  from  them,  had  there  been  no 
greater  obstacle  yn  this  perhaps  time  and  conversation 
might  have  remov'd  it,  but  there  grew  So  great  a  ran- 
cour among  the  members  that  they  Shun'd  the  conver- 


62  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

sation  of  Each  other  Out  of  the  house,  and  could  not 
preserve  the  rules  of  common  decency  in  it  descending 
to  downright  Scolding,  giving  the  lye,  threatning  to 
Spit  in  the  faces  &  were  (as  I  am  informed)  often 
very  nigh  getting  together  hy  the  Ears:  &  Seemingly 
or  really  so  Irreconcileably  divided  that  when  any  bill 
was  proposed  tho  a  good  one  by  One  part  it  was  Op- 
pos'd  by  the  Other  purely  for  Oppositions  Sake,  this  to 
Some  Goverrs  might  not  have  been  a  disadvantagious 
Scituation;  but  I  did  not  think  the  Governing  by  par- 
ties Eligible  till  I  could  not  avoid  the  doing  so,  & 
us'd  the  differences  rather  as  matters  of  diversion  than 
otherwise:  Sometimes  expressing  a concerne  that  good 
men  Should  be  So  Angry  wth  each  other.  This  was 
their  conduct  During  most  of  the  time  of  their  Sitting 
which  was  very  Long;  but  before  the  close  of  the  Ses- 
sions there  arose  a  difference  between  them  &  the 
Councill;  &  tho  they  were  far  from  Agreeing  Amongst 
themselves  in  other  matters  yet,  the  majority  of  them 
Seem'd  to  unite  heartily  against  the  Councill  in  this: 
wch  appearing  to  me  of  Dangerous  tendency  I  thought 
it  necessaay  to  dissolve  them;  &  not  Suffer  a  contro- 
versy of  that  kind  to  go  any  further,  Inclos'd  you 
have  my  Speech  to  them  on  the  dissolution:  with  Ap- 
parent reasons  for  the  doing  of  it:  but  the  true  one 
was  for  this  their  Extravagant  &  as  I  thought  unwar- 
rantable claim  wcl1  was  the  Cause  of  this  difference, 
the  case  stands  thus.  There  are  two  Acts  pass'dinthis 
Province  to  strike  paper  bills  of  credit:  these  two  Acts 
have  had  the  Eoyall  assent, — the  reasons  assign'd  in 
the  preamble  of  these  Acts  are,  for  Encreasing  the  cur- 
rency of  this  collony,  for  the  better  enabling  the  in- 
habitants to  Support  Government,  discharge  their  En- 
gagements &  carry  on  their  trade.  In  order  to  do 
those  things  this  money  is  let  out  to  Interest,  and  the 
Interest  arising  from  it  to  be  yearly  paid  in  to  the 
treasurers  of  the  Province  and  by  these  Acts 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORBI8.  63 

this  Interest  money  so  paid  to  the  treasurers 
is  to  be  disposed  of  to  &  for  the  Support  of 
the  Government  in  Such  Sort,  manner  &  forme,  as  by 
the  Governour,  Councill,  &  Oenerall  Assembly,  Shall 
be  directed,  — By  these  Acts  the  money  arising  by  the 
Interest  is  given  and  Apply'd  to  the  Support  of  the 
Government  and  to  be  dispos'd  of  for  that  purpose; 
but  how  &  in  what  man'er  that  is  (as  I  take  it)  how 
much  to  the  Governour  &  how  much  to  other  officers, 
»fc  for  other  Services  is  left  to  the  direction  of  the  Gov- 
ernour, Council!,  &  Assembly,  for  the  time  being  to 
Agree  upon;  whether  this  was  to  be  done  by  Agree- 
ment without  an  Act  of  Assembly;  or  by  an  Act? 
might  admit  of  debate;  but  whether  with,  or  without 
an  Act;  the  Councill  were  of  Opinion  that  both  they 
and  the  Governour;  had  by  virtue  of  these  Acts  as 
much  right  as  the  Assembly  to  direct  how  &  in  what 
manner  money  long  since  rais'd  &  paid  into  the  hands 
of  the  treasurers  for  the  Support  of  the  Government 
Should  be  apply 'd  to  that  use, — the  Assembly  indeed 
when  they  rais'd  any  money  by  act  have  pretended  a 
right  not  to  admit  the  councill  to  amend  a  money  bill 
&  the  Councill  on  the  Other  side  have  insisted  on  a 
right  to  amend  any  bill  if  they  thought  n't;  tho  they 
Often  declin'd  doing  of  it  rather  than  hazzard  the 
Support  of  y°  government,  but  this  they  took  to  be  a 
quite  differant  case  because  by  the  Express  words  of 
the  Acts  wch  rais'd  the  money  both  goveniour  and 
councill  as  well  as  assembly  were  Im powered,  to  direct 
in  the  disposition  of  it;  however,  to  avoid  as  much  as 
might  be  any  dispute  on  that  head,  the  Councill  did 
proceed  directly  to  make  the  Ammendments  they 
thought '  necessary;  but  desired  A  conference  with 
them  on  the  Subject  matter  of  the  bill,  the  Assembly 
Naturally  enough  Concluding  that  the  Councill  In- 
tended by  this  conference  to  proi>ose  Some  Ammend- 
ment  to  the  bill  then  Sent  up  the  Support  of  the  gov- 


64  ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

ernment  not  only  refus'd  to  Conferr  with  them,  but  de- 
clar'd  it  to  be  inconsistent  both  with  the  Interest  of  the 
Province  &  the  priveleges  of  their  house  to  Admit  of 
any  alterations  to  be  made  in  it.  This  they  might 
have  said  if  they  had  So  pleas'd  with  respect  to  Any 
other  bill  or  all  bills  &  would  have  been  if  persisted  in 
a  totall  Exclusion  of  yc  Councell,  wch  has  all  wayes 
been  &  still  is  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Legislature 
by  his  Majesties  letters  Patent:  &  whatever  pretence 
they  might  have  had  with  respect  to  a  bill  raising 
money  upon  the  people,  they  had  not  the  least  collour 
for  doing  it  in  a  bill  wch  was  only  made  for  the  appli- 
cation of  money  allready  rais'd  &  in  the  treasury;  & 
wch  by  Virtue  of  Acts  that  rais'd  it  was  to  be  applyed 
by  the  direction  of  the  govern  our  &  councill  as  well  as 
themselves, — the  Excluding  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Legislature  I  conceiv'd  to  be  a  matter  of  too  dangerous 
tendency  &  too  Open  an  attempt  on  the  constitution 
for  me  to  let  pass  unnoticed;  &  I  pers wading  my  Self e 
that  my  Conduct  will  on  this  head  be  approv'd  by  my 
Superiors 

In  Pensylvania  they  have  a  councill  to  advise  the 
govern'  wch,  as  I  am  told  have  no  voice  in  Legislation 
&  their  neighbours  in  this  Province  may  for  ought  I 
know  be  fond  of  Such  A  Constitution:  as  being  one 
great  Step  to  render  A  governour  Intirely  dependant 
on  the  people,  &  the  tool  of  their  purposes;  wch  are  not 
allwaies  the  best  or  most  beneficial  for  themselves;  but 
untill  his  Majestie  thinks  fit  to  make  that  the  Consti- 
tution of  this  Government,  it  Seems  to  me  an  unwar- 
rantable Step  in  the  Assembly  to  attempt  it,  by  a  pow- 
er Assum'd  to  themselves;  &  to  be  too  like  a  vote 
formerly  in  England  that  made  the  house  of  Lords 
useless,  but  of  this  his  Majestie  &  his  Ministers  before 
whom  I  am  Oblig'd  to  lay  their  conduct  will  be  the 
best  Judges  and  of  what  is  fit  to  be  done.  The  Board 
of  trade  in  a  letter  of  theirs  of  ye  134.11  novemb*  1711 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS    MORRIS.  65 

when  the  Assembly  of  New  York  Insisted  that  the 
Council!  could  not  Amend  a  money  bill  Say  that  pre- 
tence is  Groundless  and  will  not  be  allow'd  of  in  Eng- 
land the  Councill  having  an  Equall  right  with  them  in 
Granting  money  there  being  nothing  in  her  majesties 
Commission  under  ye  great  Seale  to  the  contrary,  by 
virtue  of  wch  they  only  Sit  as  an  Assembly.  I  make 
no  question  the  members  of  the  present  board  will  be 
of  the  Same  Opinion  and  that  if  the  Assembly  pretence 
that  the  councill  could  not  amend  A  money  bill  was 
groundless  the  pretence  of  Excluding  of  them  totally 
from  making  any  alteration  in  the  disposition  of  money 
allready  rais'd  (&  wch  by  Express  words  of  the  Acts 
that  rais'd  it  Power  was  Given  to  the  Councill  Equally 
with  the  Assembly  to  direct  in  the  disposition  of  it)  is 
much  more  groundless  &  unreasonable. 

I  am  Sorry  to  Say  that  Some  of  the  people  call'd 
Quakers  were  very  Strenuous  on  this  head  against  the 
Councill  &  were  very  much  the  Occasion  of  Carrying 
things  this  length:  but  as  many  of  the  members  of 
that  perswasion  in  the  house  were  very  much  & 
Sincerely  my  friends  I  would  hope  that  if  Some  of 
their  friends  in  England  would  by  letters  hint  to  them 
the  danger  of  this  conduct  the  warm,  &  heady  Amongst 
them  might  be  prevail'd  upon  to  become  more  moder- 
ate and  to  desist  making  of  claimes  W*  I  think  can 
never  be  granted:  but  that  I  submit;  the  disposition  of 
the  people,  their  Jealousies  of  all  govern?  and  their 
Strong  Endeavours  to  render  them  intirely  dependant 
upon  themselves,  tho'  too  notorious,  is  not  Peculiar  to 
this  province  only,  it  Increases  as  you  go  farther  East- 
ward, &  I  think  is  rather  more  in  New  York  tnan 
here;  but  with  this  difference  that  the  Generality 
here  pretend  a  great  Liking  and  affection  to  their  gov- 
ernour;  but  there  not.  Mr  Clarke  who  really  is  A 
man  of  understanding  (&  who  I  think  has  behav'd 
very  well  &  with  exceeding  temper)  has  not  been  So 
6 


66  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

fortunate  as  to  gaine  upon  the  Affections  of  the  people 
who  Deem  him  a  man  of  much  Art;  but  Suspect  his 
Sincerity,  &  ad  to  their  generall  Jealousy  of  all  gover- 
nours  a  very  great  Suspition  of  him  in  particular, 
the  Generallity  of  those  who  dislik'd  Mr  Cosby's 
administration  did  firmly  believe  he  was  the  director 
&  adviser  of  all  Mr  Cosby's  measures  &  tho'  he  Deny'd 
he  was  So  '&  charg'd  All  their  missteps  to  the  account 
Coll1  Cosbys  lady  and  took  quite  different  measures  in 
his  administration  yet  his  denyall  did  not  obtain  So 
much  credit  as  was  expected.  On  the  Other  side  the 
Partizans  of  M1  Cosbys  administration  whether  it  was 
from  dissappointment  of  Mr  Clarkes  not  entring  into 
their  measures  with  So  much  warmth  as  they  Expected 
he  would  or  for  what  other  reason  began  Seemingly 
or  really  to  grow  coole  towards  him  and  after  that  so 
Violent  against  him  as  to  exceed  all  manner  of  decency 
in  the  Opposit"  they  made;  they  upbraid  him  in  all 
companies  &  some  of  them  as  I  have  been  told  went 
so  far  (of  wch  it  is  Said  the  brother  of  the  chief  Justice 
was  one)  as  to  come  close  to  the  fort  walls  when  his 
Lady  and  daughter  was  walking  upon  the  rauiparts  & 
abuse  them  in  a  most  vile  manner  calling  Each  of 
them  whores  &  pretended  to  name  the  places,  times, 
&  persons,  where,  when,  &  with  whom  they  had 
entertained  Criminal  conversations.  Mr  Clarke  pru- 
dently declining  to  take  any  notice  of  this,  conlirm'd 
the  Others  in  the  Opinion  they  had  entertain'd  that 
this  difference  was  all  pretence  &  yl  he  was  embark'd 
in  the  Same  bottom  with  them  or  would  have  taken 
notice  of  this  &  20  other  Instances  of  Mall  treatment 
he  had  receiv'd  and  had  been  given  to  Others  wth  they 
Said  might  have  been  effectually  don  by  changing  a 
Sherrif  made  by  Cosby  wch  he  had  been  petition'd  by 
Some  hundreds  to  do,  but  would  not  &  wch  Sherrif 
generally  return'd  some  of  these  rude  people  on  the 
Grand  Jury,  the  dissolution  of  ye  last  Assembly 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  67 

which  had  done  more  than  he  could  have  expected  of 
them  farther  confirm'd  these  Suspicions  for  tho'  the 
Opposite  party  had  by  methods  not  as  is  Said  altogether 
Justifyable  got  one  of  their  party  into  the  house  in  the 
room  of  one  of  the  Other  yl  dyed  &  had  gain'd  Some 
of  the  members  yet  they  Soon  lost  them  &  then  began 
to  appear  a  disposition  to  peace  &  settlement  but  the 
Sudden  dissolution  put  a  stop  to  its  being  done  by 
these  hands  I  was  an  Intire  Stranger  to  the  thing; 
being  not  at  all  advis'd  with  about  it  nor  do  I  learne 
yl  my  son  was  &  was  much  Surpris'd  when  I  hear'd  it 
being  a  misterious  piece  of  conduct  which  none  could 
Account  for  but  those  let  into  the  Secret.  The  pre- 
vailing Opinion  was  that  he  had  now  thrown  off  y8 
mask  &  was  sure  of  the  Other  party;  and  his  Speech 
to  them  Since  confirmes  them  in  that  Opinion  wch  they 
say  would  not  have  been  what  it  is  if  he  had  not  well 
known  who  he  had  to  deale  with;  for  my  part  I  hardly 
know  what  to  Say  about  it,  he  may  possibly  Succeed; 
but  I  very  much  Question  it,  if  those  Suppos'd  of  his 
party  are  not  very  great  masters  of  dissimulation  no 
thing  has  been  left  unsaid  by  them  to  bring  in  men 
Very  Opposite  to  his  Interest,  &  should  those  let  into 
the  Secret  (if  such  there  be)  pretend  to  change  Opinions 
&  decline  passing  in  the  house  the  arguments  of  a 
halfe  Sallary  being  Sufficient  &  that  for  one  yeare  for 
a  Lieutenant  govern  our  w**  were  the  popular  topicks 
they  made  use  of  to  get  themselves  &  others  chosen  I 
doubt  much  if  they  would  Succeed ;  but  that  a  little 
time  will  discover. 

I  have  been  the  more  full  on  this  head  on  the  Score 
of  the  letter  you  hon!?  me  with  of  the  15th  of  Janry.  I 
cannot  easily  Express  the  Obligations  I  think  mySelfe 
under  to  you  &  am  Sencible  of  those  I  ow  to  Mr  Wai- 
pole  &  would  be  gladly  Serviceable  to  Mr  Clark  or  any 
friend  of  his  or  Yours.  I  wish  it  was  as  much  in  my 
power  as  Inclination  to  reconcile  &  put  an  end  to  the 


08  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

animosities  in  New  York  in  Such  a  manner  as  would 
make  them  friends  to  the  governour  &  government  as 
well  as  one  another;  but  that  considering  the  generall 
Inclinations  of  the  people  requires  greater  talents  than 
I  am  master  of  &  Mr  Clarke  has  too  great  A  knowl- 
edge in  the  Scyence  of  government  to  need  my  Advice 
Should  he  condescend  to  Ask  it,  Time  may  discover 
strange  Events  but  if  I  can-  forme  any  Judgm1  from 
the  present  face  of  things  that  govern  m't  will  be  in  no 
likelyhood  of  Settlement  unless  A  govern'  in  chief  is 
Sent  among  them  &  he  Should  be  as  I  think  one  of  no 
mean  abillities  that  can  Succeed  in  So  difficult  an 
undertaking  without  the  aid  of  a  British  Parliament: 
but  I  feare  I  say  too  much. 

Our  Assembly  have  Setled  a  Support  for  three  Years 
and  would  have  it  believ'd  that  they  have  done  won- 
ders, my  share  of  it  is  £1000  per  annum  wch  was  about 
600  Sterling  but  is  now  about  550£  Sterling  &  my 
whole  perquisites  will  not  Exceed  £70  Sterling  pr 
Annum  if  it  comes  up  to  it,  the  other  officers  of  the 
Government  are  So  scantily  provided  for  that  they  can 
scarce  performe  the  Services  required  of  them  &  at 
the  Same  time  there  is  Sufficient  in  the  Treasury  for 
an  ample  provision  for  all  of  us.  The  assembly 
thought  that  in  this  Support  they  had  made  an  Ample 
provision  for  me,  or  would  have  it  thought  so  by 
others;  but  unless  they  mend  their  hand  I  can't  see 
that  I  can  lay  up  any  thing  by  it,  the  holding  of  the 
Sessions  of  Assembly  in  two  different  places  &  keep- 
ing two  Secretaries  offices  causes  an  Encrease  of 
Expense  &  is  inconvenient  to  the  Inhabitants  of  wcl1 
they  are  Sencible,  as  may  be  Observed  from  their 
addresse  to  me.  The  Instruction  Obliging  to  that  was 
a  concession  the  Crown  Agreed  to  upon  the  Surrendr 
of  the  Government;  but  it  being  on  all  hands  agreed 
to  be  inconvenient;  &  the  circumstances  both  of 
things  and  of  the  Proprietors  Interests  with  respect  to 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  69 

their  Scituation  being  now  very  much  altered,  the  rea- 
son of  it  doth  not  now  continue  the  Same  it  was;  &  I 
am  in  hopes  his  Majestic  may  be  induc'd  to  leave  that 
matter  to  the  govern'  &  councill 

I  have  wrote  a  book  instead  of  a  letter  but  believ'd 
the  being  particular  would  give  you  the  best  Accounts 
of  things  So  as  to  enable  you  to  form  a  Judgment  of 
them  and  am  Sir 

Your  most  obliged  &c   L.  M. 

To  the  Right  Honble  Sir  Charles  Wager  first  Lord 
Commissr  of  the  Admiralty  &  one  of  his  Majesties 
Most  honble  Privy  Counsel. 


From  Ex-Governor  Hamilton  to  the  Lords  of  Trade- 
complaining  of  certain  proceedings  of  Governor 
Morris. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey  Vol  4.  F  33.  J 

Letter  from  Mr  Hamilton  late  Commander  in 
Chief  of  New  Jersey,  dated  May  SO1.11  1739, 
complaining  of  Col:  Morris  the  present 
Govr  for  threatning  to  sue  him  for  the  Sal- 
ary he  received  as  President,  when  he  com- 
manded. 

Amboy  May  30th  1739. 
My  Lords 

I  humbly  hope  your  Lordships  will  pardon  the  pre- 
sumption. I  now  am  Guilty  of  by  taking  up  Any  of 
your  time  with  my  trifleing  Affairs  but  Your  Lord- 
ships haveing  been  pleased  to  Approve  of  My  Conduct 
during  the  time  I  presided  in  this  Province  &  directed 
me  in  a  Letter  You  did  me  the  honor  to  Send  of  the 
22d  of  June  1737  to  doe  my  utmost  to  presei-ve  the 
tranquility  of  the  Province  under  my  Command  untill 


70  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

the  Arrival  of  the  Lord  De  La  Warr.  I  take  the 
Liberty  to  Acquaint  Your  Lordships  that  as  Soon 
as  Coll?  Morris  recd  his  Commission  for  Governor 
of  this  Province  he  came  here  to  publish  it  and  att  the 
Same  time  did  declare  he  came  as  an  Intire  Stranger 
and  Void  of  all  resentments  to  Any  person  whatso- 
ever. In  the  Winter  Coll?  Morris  held  An  Assembly 
att  Amboy  in  the  Council  I  acted  as  President  &  for- 
warded his  Majestys  Interest  &  the  good  of  the  Coun- 
try as  much  as  Lay  in  my  power  the  first  Council  that 
was  held  after  that  Assembly  was  disolved  the  War- 
rants for  the  Salarys  of  the  Officers  of  the  Goverm1 
were  Signed,  I  Applyed  for  my  Salary  as  Commander 
in  Cheif  from  the  23d  of  June  1738  (to  which  time  I 
had  received  My  Salary)  to  the  28th  of  Aug1  following 
the  day  he  published  his  Commission  w!1  he  not  only 
refused  to  grant  but  likewise  told  me  he  Expect'd  I 
Should  pay  him  all  the  Salary  I  had  received  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council  from  the  20*?  of  Octr  1736  the  time 
he  came  here  and  demanded  the  Goverm*  &  that  If  I 
did  not  pay  him  he  Should  be  Obliged  to  Sue  me.  I 
told  him  if  he  did  &  Judgment  went  against  me  I 
would  certainly  Appeal  Since  that  I  have  not  heard 
any  thing  further  nor  doe  I  yet  know  what  he  Intends 
to  doe,  however  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  Acquaint 
Your  Lordships  with  it  &  begg  You  will  consider  what 
a  Situation  I  shall  be  in  if  he  does,  He  is  the  Govern; 
has  made  his  Youngest  Son  Cheif  Justice  of  the  pro- 
vince. &  Appoints  Sheriffs  &  other  Officers  of  the 
Court.  So  if  I  should  be  Cast  I  must  first  Appeal  to 
him  in  Council  bef  or  I  can  carry  it  to  England  wherein  I 
may  meet  with  great  difficulty.  I  humbly  begg  Your 
Lordships  will  be  pleased  to  consider  me  I  hope  You 
will  pardon  me  for  this  Long  Ace- 

I  have  the  Honor  to  be  w1!1  the  most  profound  regard 
My  Lords  Your  Lordships  most  humble 

and  most  Obedient  Servant 
JOHN  HAMILTON 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  71 


Letter  from  James  Alexander  to  Peter  Collinsori— 
relating  to  his  difficulties  with  Governor  Cosby 
and  President  Clarke. 

iFrom  the  Original  Draft  in  Rutherfurd  Collection,  Vol.  IV,  p.  68.) 

New  York  June  4  1739. 
Sir 

hearing  by  this  post  that  a  new  GoV  is  nominated 
for  this  place,  tho'  I  am  Extremely  Straitened  in  time 
yet  Least  the  news  should  prove  true  I  thought  that  I 
ought  not  to  miss  this  opportunity  of  answering  yours 
concerning  my  place  in  the  Council  as  particularly  as 
I  could. 

About  18  years  agoe  I  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Council  of  New  York  by  Governor  Burnets  recomen- 
dation  on  his  first  arriveal  to  whom  1  was  in  the 
Strongest  manner  recommended  by  Brigadier  Robert 
Hunter  his  predecessor  who  were  two  of  the  best 
Gov™  that  ever  this  place  has  had  &  if  I  am  not  out, 
I  am  now  the  oldest  but  one  of  the  .Council. 

I  Stood  So  well  with  Brigadier  Hunter  Govr  Burnet 
&  Govr  Montgomerie,  that  I  was  not  without  Envy 
on  that  head,  tho  God  knows  it  I  never  used  my 
Interest  with  them  to  the  hurt  of  this  my  Country  or 
any  one  in  it  but  the  Contrary  to  the  utmost  of  my 
power. 

Before  Coll  Cosby  Came  I  thought  I  Laid  in  a  Suffi- 
cient Stock  of  Obligations  upon  him  that  I  might  have 
Stood  as  well  or  better  with  him  than  any  former  Govr 
because  he  was  more  Obliged  to  me  before  ever  he 


1  PETBR  COLUNSOK  was  for  many  years  the  business  corre.spondent  of  Mr.  Alex- 
ander in  London,  making  purchases  for  Mrs.  Alexander's  store,  and  performing 
important  services  otherwise— £», 


72  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

Saw  me  than  any  one  in  this  place  &  by  the  advice  & 
assistance  I  gave  him  in  England  before  his  arriveal 
here  he  owned  he  Saved  the  payment  of  the  Companys 
here  which  was  at  Least  £2000  pi"  annum  to  him  all 
the  time  of  his  Government. 

The  assistance  I  gave  him  was  not  by  advice  before 
hand  only  but  also  by  Advancing  much  above  4000  of 
our  money  for  the  payment  of  the  Companys  before 
his  arriveal  when  no  other  body  would  do  it  at  first  to 
Save  him  from  the  necesity  of  the  thing  because  no 
provision  was  [made]  for  it  and  afterwards  by  his 
approbation  &  thanks  for  what  I  had  done  &  Express 
directions  to  Continue  to  do  So  till  his  arriveal. 

Upon  his  arriveal  he  Seemed  very  gratefull  for  these 
Services,  but  Soon  after  I  had  a  notice  from  my 
friends  Penn  &  Barclay  that  his  agent  refused  pay- 
ment of  above  £500  Sterling  of  what  I  advanced  at 
his  request,  which  I  acquainted  him  of  &  he  buffled 
with  me  about  it  for  three  months  when  I  would  be 
no  Longer  so  put  off.  I  told  him  I  must  beg  his 
appearance  to  a  Suit  agl  him  for  my  money,  &  beg'd 
that  it  might  make  no  alterration  of  friendship  be- 
twixt us — This  put  him  in  a  Rage  &  Storm  in  which 
he  threatned  terribly;  on  this  Treatment  I  immediatly 
Engaged  all  the  best  Council  in  this  place  agl  him — 
he  Sent  soon  to  the  Same  Council  but  found  I  had  been 
before  hand  with  him,  upon  which  he  Complyed  by 
giving  me  a  Note  under  hand  for  bills  of  Ex:i  to  the 
value  of  my  Demand  but  £140  of  that  money  is  still 
unpaid  &  Ever  will  be  I  Suppose  for  I  happened  after- 
wards on  a  Shop  account  to  Sign  a  Rec1  in  full  of  all 
Demands  without  reading  it  thinking  it  to  have  been 
drawn  in  the  Shop  by  my  Wifes  Directions  &  he  had 
the  grace  to  Declare  he  made  use  of  that  to  barr  me  of 
that  demand  under  his  own  hand. 

This  useage  of  me  to  whom  he  was  So  much  Obliged 
was  but  the  first  appearance  of  his  madness  (the  most 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  73 

charitable  name  I  can  give  to  his  Conduct  here)  it 
Soon  broke  out  after  with  a  full  Lustre  agl  Mr  Vandam 
Coll  Morris  &  others,  &  Did  Such  things  that  few  men 
thought  their  Lives,  Libertys  or  Estates  in  that  Colony 
in  Safety,  I  heartily  opposed  his  mad  measures,  This 
Led  him  to  represent  me  in  a  Strange  Light  to  the 
board  of  Trade,  They  without  hearing  me  (tho  a 
Caveat  was  there  Entered)  &  without  any  proof 
reported  agl  me  to  be  Displaced  but  Coll  Morris  hear- 
ing of  it  before  confirmed  in  Council  wrote  to  Lord 
Wilmington  against  it,  which  put  a  Stop  to  the  Matter 
then  &  there  it  Lyes  unconfirmed — but  I  have  been  too 
Long  on  that  Madman — to  come  a  little  nearer  to 
the  point,  most  men  believed  that  Mr  Clark  was  an 
adviser  &  a  helper  in  Cosbys  Schemes  in  order  to  ruin 
him  &  make  way  for  himself  ^tho  he  has  Strongly 
Denyed  it  since  his  Death)  Cosby  Suspended  Vandam 
to  make  room  for  Clark  to  be  president — most  men 
abhorred  the  action  &  believed  the  Suspension  Died 
with  Cosby  because  not.in  the  Kings  name  but  a  per- 
sonal act  of  Cosbys  of  which  opinion  I  was  and  still 
am  &  Disowned  Mr  Clarks  government  as  president 
accordingly.  I  was  not  .once  Summoned  to  Council 
from  the  time  of  my  threatning  of  Cosby  with  a  Suit 
as  before  till  the  day  of  his  death  when  I  was  Sum- 
moned &  opposed  Mr  Clarks  taking  the  Govemment 
on  him,  but  Mr  Vandam  was  heard  &  had  my  dissent 
Entered  on  the  minutes  of  Council  &  a  Coppy  of  my 
dissent  attested  by  the  Clerk  as  a  proclamation  The 
Council  Delivered  me  [?]  but  notwithstanding  that 
Caution  notifying  the  death  of  Cosby  &  his  taking  the 
Government  by  unanimous  advice  of  the  Council 
nameing  my  name  the  first  of  them.  I  Lookt  on  this 
as  a  horrid  abuse  of  me  &  immediatly  I  published  a 
Declaration  that  I  had  not  advised  or  Consented  as 
that  proclamation  Set  forth — various  papers  were  pub- 
lished on  this  point  from  the  10th  of  March  1735-6  the 


74  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

day  of  the  death  of  Cosby  to  the  12th  of  April  1736, 
which  maybe  Seen  in  Bradfords  &  Zengers  papers  here, 
when  M'  Zengers  paper  of  that  Last  day  in  my  behalf 
.  .  ? .  .  without  answer,  all  men  being  Convinced  of  the 
abuse  put  upon  me  by  the  proclamation  &  Bradfords 
papers  in  Support  of  it — which  the  minutes  of  Council 
Showing  my  Dissent  (durst  I  have  Cited  them)  might 
have  done  at  once. 

Mr  Clark  had  got  the  Seals  &  the  Majority  of  the 
Council  on  his  Side  but  a  vast  Majority  of  the  people 
Lookt  on  him  as  an  Usurper  in  prejudice  of  Vandam, 
however  the  plan  was  kept  no  material  Step  of  Either 
Side  being  taken  to  break  it  Leaving  things  just  as 
they  were  at  Cosbys  death  till  September  thereafter 
when  Magistrates  for  this  City  were  by  the  Charter  to 
be  Elected  &  a  new  Mayor  was  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Commander  in  Cheif  and  as  it  remained  a  Doubt  who 
was  Commander  in  Cheif  &  consequently  whose  nom- 
ination of  a  Mayor  Should  be  accepted  it  was  put  to 
the  vote  on  the  day  of  Election  of  Magistrates  & 
unanimously  by  the  Electors  of  the  whole  City  voted 
to  accept  of  Mr  Vandam  s  nomination  of  a  Mayor.     Mr 
Clark  appointed  one  &  Vandam  another,  but  before 
the  time  for  their  Entring  on  the  office  Mr  Clark  was 
approved  from  England  &  had  a  Commission  to  be 
Lieu1  Governour — On  this  all  opposition  to -him  as  to 
being  Commander  in  Chief  Ceased — he  treated  me  in 
the  Same  manner  as  Cosby  by  not  Summoning  me  to 
the  Council — the  Assembly  that  had  sat  for  near  ten 
years  &  who  the  people  were  much  disgusted  at  for 
not  opposing  Cosby  in  his  measures,  to  retrieve  their 
Credit  with  the  people  began  to  oppose  Mr  Clark  & 
would  give  him  but  half  the  Salary  usually  given  to  a 
Govr  he  thereon  dissolved  the  Assembly— &  his  great- 
est former  opposers  while  president  were  chosen— 
amongst  which  I  happened  to  be  one — he  promised 
Some  good  Laws  to  give  us  Something  of  a  Constitu- 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  75 

tion  (besides  will  &  pleasure  in  Consideration  of  which 
we  granted  him  full  Salary  &  all  his  arrears  (not 
out  of  any  affection)  I  believe  he  owed  it  pretty  much 
to  me  that  he  got  it,  we  were  willing  to  pay  him  full 
Salary  from  year  to  year  would  he  govern  well  &  con- 
sent to  Laws  necessary  for  the  Colony,  which  the  first 
Session  of  that  Assembly  IJJJBeemed  pleased  with  but 
before  the  next  Session  he>round  means  to  prevail  on 
a  Considerable  number  "of  that  Assembly  to  accept 
offices  of  him  &  consequently  in  the  opinion  of  the 
people,  to  become  Dependent  on  him,  this  he  well 
knew  had  ruined  their  Interest  with  their  Constituents 
&  therefore  at  the  beginning  of  the  next  Session  he 
treated  them  with  a  Motherly  air  &  demanded  a  five 
years  Salary  to  be  paid  at  once  upon  him — he  had  not 
Corrupted  Enough  to  Consent  to  that  tho  no  Stone 
was  Left  unturned  to  do  it  he  Courted  me  and  my 
family  heartily  but  in  vain  &  he  knows  I  was  a  Con- 
siderable Instrument  to  prevent  his  Obtaining  his  aims, 
—not  out  of  any  pique  to  him  but  because  by  Dear 
Experience  we  have  found  it  ....  prejudicial  to 
the  Country  to  give  a  five  years  Salary  for  .  .  (?)  .  . 
governours  Have  got  that  but  they  have  Set  plunder- 
ing Schemes  on  foot  as  Cosby  did  with  a  witness- 
being  so  baulkt  of  his  aims. — he  Dissolved  that 
assembly  at  the  new  Choise  it  was  objected  to  me  that 
I  had  been  for  full  Salary  &  would  be  a  friend  to  AT 
Clark  in  all  his  measures  of  a  five  years  Salary  &c — to 
be  for  a  full  Salary  I  would  not  Disown  while  he  gov- 
erned well,  for  it  was  my  opinion  be  what  he  will  that 
he  ought  to  be  paid  well  while  he  governed  well,  but 
as  to  a  five  years  Salary  I  was  Content  to  give  any 
assurances  that  I  would  not  be  for  it  and  that  I  would 
be  for  all  the  Laws  that  the  Country  had  at  heart — a 
Declaration  by  way  of  Question  &  answer  was  drawn 
up  to  this  purpose  to  which  my  Colleagues  &  I  agreed 
*****  The  votes  on  the  Election  were  very 


76  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1739 

near  but  my  fellow  Candidate  &  I  Lost  it,  but  I  believe 
we  might  have  had  it,  had  the  half  of  the  pains  been 
taken  that  was  taken  on  the  other  Side  as  for  my  part 
I  never  asked  one  to  vote  for  me    *    *    *    *    A  great 
part  of  this  you  may  think  out  of  the  way,  but  I 
thought  it  necessary  to  show  you  how  I  Stand  with 
Mr  Clark,  who  no  body  dolfUs  is  a  man  of  good  sense 
&  of  vast  reach  &  cunning  &  who  has  governed  so  as 
to  give  no  Just  Cause  of  Complaint  to  any  one  that  I 
know  of  &  while  he  does  So  I  wish  he  may  continue 
our  Governour  &  yet  no  man  believes  he  has  one  grain 
of    ....     nor  any  regard  for  any  man  but  in 
Exact  proportion  to  the  benefite  he  can  make  of  him, 
but  to  come  the  point  I  believe  that  would  I  have  ap- 
ply ed  or  would  Still  apply  to  him  to  recommend  my 
restoration,  that  he  would  be  much  pleased  with  my 
request  &  promise  to  grant  it,  but  whether  he  would 
perform  his  promise  is  what  I  can  in  no  ways  depend 
on — On  the  Contrary  I  have  reason  to  believe  he  would 
publish  that  my  request  in  order    to  ruin  my  inter- 
est with  the  people  he    has  given   more  than  one 
instance  of  the  like— I  Incline  not  to  put  these  in  his 
power  nor  to  Lye  under  any  Obligation  to  him  &  will 
rather  Chuse  to  Remain  out  of  my  place  in  the  Council 
for  ever. 

I  want  not  to  be  restored  while  he  is  Governour  all 
I  would  desire  is  that  when  a  new  Governour  is  nom- 
inated that  I  may  then  be  put  in  my  right  place  &  in 
order  to  that  I  think  his  Recommendation  can  no  ways 
be  wanting. 

If  a  new  Governour  be  nominated  as  is  Said  Now 
must  be  the  time  before  the  Instructions  pass  for  to  do 
this  &  I  gratefully  Embrace  your  offer  of  Service  on 
this  head.  I  am  heartyly  Sorry  for  the  death  of  Capt 
Norris  had  he  been  alive  he  would  have  heartyly 
assisted  in  this  with  all  his  Interest.  If  Mr  Paris  can 
be  helpful,  I  believe  he  will  readyly  Lend  his  assistance 


1739]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  77 

in  it  at  your  request  for  he  it  was  that  Entered  the 
Caveat  agl  Determining  on  any  representation  of 
Cosby  ag'  me  till  I  was  heard  &  to  him  I  Sent  Certifi- 
cates of  my  Character  from  Sundry  Grand  juries  of 
New  York  &  New  Jersey  upon  oath  Attested  under 
the  Great  Seal  of  New  Jersey  &  under  the  Seal  of  the 
City  of  New  York  which  he  has  but  the  Charge  that 
woudl  attend  a  hearing  before  the  King  &  Council  on 
this  matter  hindered  Coll  Morris  then  in  England  from 
proceeding  in  it  he  being  in  the  Same  representation 
&  report  that  I  was,  &  So  till  this  time  it  Lyes.  If 
Thomas  Orby  Hunter  son  of  GoV  Hunter  be  in  town, 
I  believe  he  will  readyly  at  your  request  do  all  in  his 
power  in  the  matter  how  much  that  may  be  I  know 
not.  ***** 

JAS.  ALEXANDER. 


From  James  Alexander  to  Mr.  Rodrigo  Pacheco — en- 
closing the  foregoing  letter. 

(From  the  Original  Draft  in  Rutherfurd  Collection,  Vol.  IV,  p.  OS.] 

New  York  June  4th  1739 

Dr  Sir  [Extract.  1 

Capt  Pierce  told  me  that  Peter  Collinsou  was  the 
man  who  (unaskt  of  me)  put  Sr  Charles  Wager  upon 
getting  me  restored  to  the  Council  of  New  Jersey 

Mr  Collinson  is  a  man  of  good  Interest  wf  Sir  Charles 
&  has  Since  offered  his  best  Services  to  procure  me 
the  Same  favour  for  New  York  has  taken  Some  pains 
about  it  (also  unaskt)  &  advises  that  it  would  be  Easy 
had  I  Mr  Clarks  recommendation,  the  within  is  Chiefly 
to  shew  Mr  Collinson  that  I  cannot  be  restored  that  way. 
What  I  would  l>eg  of  you  is  to  peruse  the  enclosed  & 
to  Seal  it,  &  if  the  above  news  be  true  [the  reported 
nomination  of  a  new  Governor]  to  take  an  opportunity 


78  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

to  Deliver  it  to  Mr  Collinson,  &  if  you  please  to  tell 
him  you  are  personally  acquainted  with  me  and  will 
give  my  Character  when  askt  Also  if  you  think  you 
can  otherwise  be  helpf ull  to  him  in  the  Matter  to  Offer 
him  your  Service.  But  if  no  Governor  be  nominated 
I  would  only,  have  you  send  the  enclosed  &  have 
no  Stir  in  the  matter  for  I  believe  its  as  Mr  Col- 
linson Says  that  Clarks  Recommendation  is  a  neces- 
sary requisite  during  the  time  of  his  Government,  & 
as  I  shall  not  apply  for  that  any  Stirr  in  the  matter 
would  be  Labor  in  vain — Should  at  any  time  hereafter 
a  Governour  be  nominated  Then  I  beg  of  you  upon  the 
first  notice  of  it  to  *  *  *  on  Mr  Collinson  for  the 
purpose  before  Being  in  haste  I  remain 

DrSir 

JA?  ALEXANDER. 


Report  from  the  Board  of  Trade  to  the  House  of  Lords 
— relating  to  the  Currency  in  America. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General  No.  36,  Ent.  Book  G,  p.  215.] 

To  the  Right  Honble  the  Lords  Spiritual  &  Tem- 
poral in  Parliani;  Assembled. 

May  it  Please  your  Lordships 

His  Majesty  having  been  pleased  by  his  Order  of  the 
15th  of  June  last,  pursuant  to  Your  Lordships  Ad- 
dresses of  the  13th  of  the  same  Month,  to  direct  the 
Commissr.8  for  Trade  and  Plantations  to  prepare  &  lay 
before  your  Lordships  at  your  next  Sessions,  "  An 
"Account  of  the  Amount  of  the  Paper  Bills  or  Bills  of 
"Credit,  which  by  Virtue  of  any  Act  or  Acts  of  As- 
"  sembly  subsisted  or  passed  in  Payment  in  any  of 
"  the  British  Colonies  or  Plantations  in  the  Year  1700, 
' '  &  also  an  Account  of  the  Amount  of  what  Paper 
"  Bills  or  Bills  of  Credit  of  any  Species  or  Kind,  have, 
"by  Virtue  of  any  such  Act  or  Acts,  been  created  or 
"issued  in  any  of  the  said  Colonies  or  Plantations 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  79 

''since  the  Year  1700,  with  the  Amount  of  the  Value 
"in  money  of  Great  Britain,  of  such  Bills  at  the  re- 
"  spective  times  of  their  creating  and  issuing,  and 
"  what  Provision  was  made  thereby  for  the  sinking  or 
"discharging  of  any  such  Paper  Bills  or  Bills  of 
"Credit,  together  with  an  Account  of  the  Amount  of 
"the  Bills  that  have  been  sunk  or  discharged  in  pur- 
"suance  thereof,  and  also  of  the  Bills  subsisting  or 
"passing  in  Payment  at  this  time  in  any  of  the  said 
"Colonies  and  Plantations,  with  the  Amount  of  the 
"Value  in  money  of  Great  Britain  of  such  Bills,  dis- 
tinguishing each  Species  or  Kind  of  Paper  Bills  or 
"Credit  and  each  Colony  and  Plantation;"  and  like- 
wise an  Account, 

"What  Rates  all  Gold  and  Silver  Coins  were  ac- 
"  counted,  received,  taken  or  paid,  and  Gold  and  Sil- 
"  ver  were  purchased  at  &  sold  for  pr  ounce,  in  any  of 
"the  British  Colonies  &  Plantations  in  America,  in 
"the  Years  1700,  1710,  1720,  1730;  and  at  what  Rates 
"Gold  and  Silver  Coins  are  accounted,  received,  taken 
"or  paid,  and  Gold  and  Silver  are  purchased  at  or  sold 
"for  pr  ounce  at  this  time  in  the  said  Colonies  and 
"  Plantations,  distinguishing  each  Colony  and  Planta- 
tion:" We  take  leave  to  represent, 

That  not  having  sufficient  Vouchers  in  Our  Office, 
to  make  out  an  Authentick  Ace'  of  Matters  of  so  long 
a  Retrospect,  We  immediately  wrote,  in  Obedience  to 
the  said  Order,  Circular  Letters  to  the  several  Govern- 
ors of  his  Majesty's  Plantations  in  America,  inclosing 
your  Lordships  said  Addresses,  &  directing  the  said 
Governors  forthwith  to  prepare  &  transmit  to  Us  the 
several  Accounts  therein  required. 

In  Answer  to  which  Letters,  We  have  received  the 
Returns  hereunto  annexed  from  the  Governors  of  his 
Majesty's  Provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  the 
Massachusetts  Bay,  &  New  Hampshire,  and  from  the 
Deputy  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  &  the  three  Coun- 


SO  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

ties  of  Newcastle,  Kent  and  Sussex  upon  Delawar 
River,  and  the  Lord  Proprietor  of  Maryland;  and  also 
from  the  Governors  of  the  Islands  of  Antigua,  S-1 
Xtophers,  and  Montserrat,  Barbados  and  the  Bermuda 
Islands;  and  crave  Leave  to  lay  the  same,  as  they  were 
transmitted  to  Us,  before  your  Lordships,  as  We  shall 
do  the  remaining  Answers  upon  the  same  Subject,  as 
soon  as  We  shall  receive  them. 

All:  which  is  most  humbly  submitted, 

MONSON 

JA:  BRUDENELL. 

Whitehall  R.  PLUMER 

March  271?1 1740.  R.  HERBERT 

M  BLADEN 
EDW?  ASHE. 

N.  B.  This  &  the  Papers  therein  mention'd  with  a 
List  of  them,  were  presented  to  the  House  of  Lords  by 
Lord  Monson,  on  Friday  28th  March,  1740. 


List  of  Papers  relating  to  the  Paper  Currency  & 
Value  of  Gold  and  Silver  Coin  in  America,  presented 
by  the  Commiss-8  for  Trade  &  Plantations  to  the 
House  of  Lords  &  Commons,  pursuant  to  their  Ad- 
dresses to  his  Majesty  of  13th  day  of  June  1739. 

1.  An  Account  of  what  Bills  of  Credit  have  from 
time  to  time  been  emitted  in  this  his  Majesty's  Colony 
of  New  York,  &c. 

March  27th.  2.  An  Account  of  the  Value  of  Money 
in  New  York  from  the  Year  1700  to  the  Year  1739. 

3.  Report  from  the  Comm'ee  of  the  Council  of  New 
Jersey  concerning  the  Paper  Currency  &  the  Value  of 
Gold  and  Silver  Coin. 

4.  An  Account  of  Bills  of  Credit  issued  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Massachuset's  Bay  &c. 

5.  Account  of  Province  Bills  made  by  Order  of  the 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  81 

Gen!  Court  &c.  for  the  Massachuset's  Bay  in    New 
England. 

0.  Account  of  the  Paper  Currency  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  New  England. 

7.  Account  of  the  sev!  Acts  passed  in  the  Province 
of  Pennsylvania  for  creating  or  issuing  Papers  Bills 
or  Bills  of  Credit  &c? 

8.  Account  of  the  sev|  Acts  of  Assembly  passed  in 
the  Governm*  of  the  Counties  of  Newcastle,  Kent  & 
Sussex  on  Delaware  for  creating  or  issuing  Paper 
Bills  of  Credit  &c. 

March  271'1  9.  Report  from  two  Members  of  the 
Council  of  Antigua  to  Wm  Mathew  Esqr  Gov?  of  the 
Leeward  Islands,  concerning  the  Value  of  Gold  &  Sil- 
ver in  that  Island,  dated  Jan'ry  2?  1739-40 

10.  Report  from  the  President  of  the  Council  of  Sl 
Christophers,  concerning  the  Value  of  Gold  &  Silver 
in  that  Island  dated  Deer  12,  1739. 

11.  Letter  from  Mr  Wyke,  President  of  the  Council 
of  Montserrat  to  GovT  Mathew,  concerning  the  State 
of  the  Coin  in  that  Island,  dated  Decemr  14th  1739. 

12.  Account  of  Paper  Currency  in  the  Province  of 
Maryland. 

13.  Letter  from  Mr  Dottin,  Com'ander  in  chief  of 
Barbados  concerning  the  Rates  of  Gold  A  Silver  Coins, 
&  the  Paper  Currency  in  that  Island,  Dated  Nov!"  91?1 
1739. 

14.  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  M'  Popple  Gov:r  of  Ber- 
muda, concerning  the  Rates  of  Gold  &  Silver  Coins  in 
those  Islands,  dated  Deer  2()t."  1739. 


N.  B.  The  Return  from  S°  Carolina  was  not  reced 
till  after  these  Papers  were  laid  before  the  Houses  of 
Parliam*  &  therefore  was  not  presented  till  15  &  16 
April  by  Ld  Monson  &  Mr  Plumer. 

Vide  Journal  of  those  days. 
7 


82  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 


State  of  the  Paper  Currency  in  the  British  Planta- 
tions. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General,  Vol.  X,  N  40.] 

Abstract  from  the  Several  Accounts  [of  the 
Paper  Currency]  returned  by  the  Govrf  of 
the  said  Plantations  to  the  Iiords  Commissrf 
for  Trade  &  Plantations,  and  by  their 
Lordsps  laid  before  both  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment in  March  and  April  1740. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

We  do  not  find  that  any  Paper  Mony  was  Issued  in 
New  Jersey,  before  1709  in  which  Year  An  Act  passed 
for  Issuing  the  Sum  of  £3,000 

Another  Act  in  1711  for  -  5,000 

1716  4,670 

1723  40,000 

1730  -  20,000 

1733  40,000 

The  best  Information  We  can  obtain  in  regard  to 
the  real  Value  of  these  Bills,  at  or  near  the  times  of 
their  being  Emitted,  is  by  a  Letter  from  Mr  Morris  the 
Present  Gov?  of  that  Province  dated  May  y!  26th  1739 
inclosing  An  Address  from  a  Committee  of  the  Council 
of  that  Province  on  this  Subject  wherein  it  is  asserted 
that  from  the  Year  1709,  to  1714  the  Exchange  was 
£150  Paper  Mony  for  £100  Sterling  and  rose  gradually 
from  1714  to  1739  to  £165  Paper  Money  for  £100  Sterl: 
and  that  when  the  said  Govr.8  Letter  came  away  the 
Exchange  was  risen  to  £170  Paper  Money  for  £100 
Sterling 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  83 

All  the  said  Paper  Mony  Issued  by  the  first  four  Acts 
of  1709,  1711,  1716  and  1723  has  been  called  in  and 
Sunk  as  was  directed  by  the  said  Acts  and  all  the 
Paper  Mony  now  Current  in  that  Province  is  £60,000 
Issued  pursuant  to  the  Acts  of  1730  &  1733  and  is  now 
worth  about  £35,300  Sterl: 

This  was  laid  before  the  Parliament 


Report  of  Robert  Dinwiddie  to  the  Lords  of  Trade- 
on  the  Trade  of  the  British  Empire  in  America. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General,  Vol.  X,  N  45.] 

A  Computation  of  the  Value  and  Trade  of  the 
British  Empire  of  America;  As  also,  An 
Account  of  the  Number  of  Fighting  Men 
in  each  Colony  or  Plantation.  By  Rob* 
Dinwiddie  Esqr  and  by  him  presented  to 
the  Board  April  29*  1740 

To  the  Right  hon'ble  the  LORDS  CpMMiss1?  for 
TRADE  and  PLANTATIONS. 

MY  LORDS' 

I  have  been  at  a  great  deal  of  Trouble  and  Expence 
to  inform  Myself  of  the  Trade  of  his  Majesty's  Ameri- 
can Empire,  and  the  annuall  amount  of  the  National 
Produce  of  each  Colony  or  Plantation :  I  give  You  the 
following  Thoughts,  Observations  and  Calculations, 
which  is  partly  from  my  own  knowledge  and  from  the 
best  informations  I  possibly  could  get;  If  it's  thought 
worthy  your  Notice,  it  will  fully  ans'  my  hopes.  I 
shall  therefore,  to  make  it  Somewhat  regular,  first, 

First — Give  You  an  Account  of  the  number  of  Ves- 
sells  belonging  to  his  Majesty's  Subjects  in  America, 


84  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

distinguished  by   each  respective  Colony,  beginning 
with  Newfoundland  and  ending  with  Barbados. 

Secondly — An  Account  of  the  number  of  Vessells 
belonging  to  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  trading  to  the 
American  Colonys  and  Plantations. 

Thirdly — An  Estimate  of  the  Value  of  the  Vessells 
belonging  to  America,  and  those  trading  from  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland  thereto. 

Fourthly — An  Account  of  the  Amount  of  the 
naturall  Produce  of  each  Plantation  by  the  improve- 
ment and  manufacturing  of  the  British  Subjects  in 
those  Parts. 

Fifthly — An  Estimate  of  the  amount  of  Goods  from 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  annually  carried  to  the 
Plantations  in  America,  and  to  the  Coast  of  Guinea. 

Sixthly — The  amo!  of  Cash,  Dye  Woods,  Druggs, 
Cacoa  &c:  brought  into  our  Plantations,  being  the 
Consequence  of  a  Trade  with  Spanish  and  French 
Colonys. 

Seventhly — The  whole  brought  into  an  Account,  by 
which  You  will  be  able  to  observe  the  considerable 
Value  of  our  American  Trade. 

I  then  shall  endeavour  to  give  an  Accof  of  the  num- 
ber of  Subjects  in  each  Colony  fitt  to  carry  Arms,  this 
entirely  from  Information,  and  then  the  Account  of 
Slaves  used  in  the  Sugar  Plantations,  their  Value  and 
Value  of  the  Works  &?  necessary  for  Sugar  Planta- 
tions. 

First — Is  Account  of  the  Vessels  belonging  to  his 
Majestys  Subjects  in  America  distinguished  by  each 
Colony,  beginning  at  Newfoundland  and  ending  at 
Barbados 

Vessells 

Belonging  to  Newfoundland,  25 

The  Government  of  New  England  Vessells  of }    _ 

different  Denominations  used  in  foreign  Trade  \ 
In  the  Same  Governm*  intirely    employed  in ) 

Fishing  and  Coasting  being  Sloops  &  Schooners  ) 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  85 

In  Connecticutt  and  Rhode  Island  in  foreign  Trade  260 
In  Ditto  used  in  Fishing  and  Coasting  Sloops  ) 

and  Schooners  -        -        -    j 

In  New  York  and  Jerseys,  in  foreign  Trade  and  ) 

in  Coasting  &c:  \ 

In  Pensylvania  and  the  lower  Countys       -  70 

In  Maryland                                                              -  60 

In  Virginia  -  80 

In  North  Carolina    -                                                 -  25 

In  South  Carolina  25 

In  Bermuda                                                               -  75 

In  Providence  and  Bahama  Islands  20 

In  Jamaica  30 

In  Leeward  and  Virgin  Islands  -  35 

In  Barbados     -                 20 


2035 

You'll  Please  to  observe  there  is  two  thousand  and 
thirty  five  Sail  of  Vessells  of  all  Dimensions  and 
Denominations,  belonging  to  his  Majesty's  Subjects  in 
America,  which,  I  believe,  is  rather  under  than  above 
the  exact  number,  But  must  notice  that  upwards  of 
five  hundred  of  them  are  small  and  used  in  the  Fishery 
and  Coasting  Trade,  which  will  be  noticed  when  we 
come  to  the  Valuation  of  them. 

Secondly — Here  follows  the  Account  from  informa- 
tion of  the  Ships  &c:  Trading  to  and  from  America 
belonging  to  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  distinguished 
by  the  Trade  they  are  concerned  in. 

VecMli 

To  Newfoundland  with  the  Fisherman  and  those  | 
employed  in^carrying  Fish  to  the  diff?  Markets  f 

To  New  England  and  Nova  Scotia  20 

To  Connecticutt  and  Rhode  Island  6 

To  New  York  and  the  Jerseys  8 

To  Pensylvania  10 

To  Maryland                 -        -  95 


86  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

To  Virginia  -  120 

To  North  Carolina  30 

To  South  Carolina  -  -  200 

To  Jamaica  100 

To  Leeward  Islands  -  151 

To  Barbados  80 

900 

Add  to  the  above  One  hundr?  and  fifty  Sail  from 
Great   Britain   and  Ireland  to  the  Coast  of  j-    150 
Guinea,  and  so  to  the  Plantations 


1050 

Thirdly — An  Estimate  of  the  Value  of  the  Vessels 

belonging  to  the  Subjects  of    America,   and    Those 

belonging  to  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  Trading  to  the 

diff'  Colonys  &c: 

1065 — Ships,    Snows  and  Brigantines  be-~] 

longing  to  the  American  Subjects  I     -•  O/>K  0™ 
trading  to  foreign  parts,  valued  at  f 
a  medm  £1000  Stf  each  is 

.  970 — Sloops  and  Schooners  of  smaller  Size  } 

and  Burthen,  valued   one  w1!1  the  j-      .388,000 
other  at  £400  Stf  each  is  ) 

.900— Ships,   Snows  &°.  from  Great  Brit?  } 

and  Ireland  to  and  from  the  Plan-  >     1,080,000 
tations,  valued  at  £1.200  each 

.150 — Ditto  from  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 1 
land  to  the  Coast  of  Guinea  and  ', 
the  Plantations,  with  extraordinary  { 
Outfitts  £1500  Ea:  -  -  -  J- 


3,085    Sail  %.     £2,758,000 

Fourthly — An  Estimate  of  the  Natural  and  Improved 
annuall  Produce  of  his  Majesty's  American  Colonys 
and  Plantations,  distinguished  into  each  Colony  or 
Plantation. 
Newfoundland  by  Fish  and  Oyl    -  -    £100,000 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  87 

New  England  and  Nova  Scotia  by  Fish,  \ 
Oyl,  Whalebone,  Cattle,  Lumber  Pitch,  V       800,000 
Tarr,Turpintine,  Building  of  Vessels  &c: ; 
Connecticutt  and  Rhode  Island,  with  the  \ 
same  Commoditys    and  Sheep,   Corn,  >       150,000 
Bread,  Flour,  Cheese  and  Butter      -        ) 
New  York  and  the  Jerseys  with  the  same,  } 

and  Tarr,  Copper-Ore,  Iron  and  Wheat  \         5°'(X 
Pensylvania  and  the  Lower  Countys  the ) 

Same  &  Tobacco  280>000 

Maryland,  in  the  Same  -      200,000 

Virginia  in  the  Same,  with  Pitch,  Tarr,  &  ) 

Turpintiue  -  }       250'000 

North  Carolina  in  the  Same    -  60,000 

South  Carolina  in  D?  with  Rice,  200,000 

Bermuda,  in  Plett,  Live-Stock,  Fish.  Oyl,  / 

Cabbage,  Onions,  &  Stones  for  building  (         l°'0( 
Bahama  Islands  in  Salt,  Timber,  Plank,  } 

Barke,  Turtle  Shell,  Braz:  wood  &  Fruit  }         15'0( 
Jamaica  in  Sugar,  Mellasses,  Rum,  Cotton,  "1 
Limejuice,  Ginger,  Indico,  Coffee,  Al-  \        50Q  OQ() 
loes,  Piemento,  Turtle  Shell,  Mahogany  f 
Timber,  and  Plank 

Antigua  in  the  Same  Commoditys  -      250,000 

Sl  Christophers         in  Ditto      -  .  220,000 

Nevis  in  Ditto  50,000 

Mountserratt  in  Ditto     -  50,000 

Anguilla  in  Ditto  15,000 

Tortola  -    in  Ditto  30,000 

Spsh  Town  in  Ditto  15,000 

Barbados  in  Ditto  300,000 

3,745,000 

Fifthly— The    amount    of    the   Value  of] 
Goods  Ship't  from   Great  Britain  and  I 
Ireland  to  our  British  Plantations  and  j-    2,550,000 
the  Coast  of  Guinea  is  annually  by  Com-  I 
putation    - 


88  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

Sixthly — A  Calculation  of  the  amount  of 
Cash,  Dye  Woods,  Druggs,  Cocoa,  &c:  im- 
ported to  the  British  Plantations,  being  the 
consequence  of  a  Trade  carried  on  to  Spanish 
and  French  Dominions  in  America.  That 
Trade  in  New  England,  Connecticutt  and 
Rhode  Island  in  Dye  Woods  from  Honduras, 
Some  Cash  and  Cacao  amo':  to  yearly  100,000 

To  New  York  (circa)  25,000 

To  Bermuda  10,000 

To  Jamaica  -   250,000 

To  Leeward  Islands  (circa)   -  20,000 

To  Barbados  (circa)  -        -  -     20,000 


£425,000 

It's  to  be  observed  that  as  this  is  the  Produce  of 
foreign  Colony's,  it's  mentioned  by  itself,  to  Shew  the 
amount  of  that  private  Branch  of  Trade,  and  tho'  it's 
carried  on  with  Goods  from  Britain  and  Negroes, 
which  is  before  considered  in  the  Calculate,  yet  it's 
conceived,  that  the  addition  of  this  will  not  over  Rate 
our  American  Trade. 

Seventhly — The  whole  brought  into  an  Account  by 
which  You  may  See  the  Amount  of  the  above  Ameri- 
can Trade. 
The  amount  of  the  computed  \7alue  of  the 

Vessells  trading  in  America,  including 

those   belonging  to  the   Merchants    of  )-    2,758,000 

Great   Brit"    and    Ireland    being  3085, 

which  amo1?  to 
The  Amo'  of  the  Natural  and  Improv'd  \ 

Produce  of  the  British  Colonys,  which  ^    3,745,000 

employ  the  above  Vessells 
The  amo'  of  Goods  from  Great  Britain  and  \ 

Ireland  to  the  Plantations  and  Coast  of  }•    2,550,000 

Guinea  annually 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  89 

>n  to  \ 

iu    in  V 


The  Amo'  of  a  Casual  Trade  carried  on  to 
the  Spanish    and  French   Settlem**  in  }•       425,000 


America  annually  (circa) 


£9,478,000 


You  will  please  to  observe  that  the  whole  Trade  to 
and  in  America,  belonging  to  his  Majesty's  British  and 
American  Subjects  (Hudson's  Bay  only  excepted) 
amounts  yearly  to  Nine  Million  four  hundred  and 
seventy  eight  thousand  pounds;  This  includes  the 
Value  of  the  whole  Navigation,  the  annual  Supplys 
from  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the  Naturall  and 
Improved  Produce  remitted  to  Europe  from  the  Plan- 
tations and  Colonys,  as  well  as  the  Supplys  given  each 
other  by  their  Traffick  and  Commerce  from  one  Colony 
or  Plantation  to  the  Other. 

I  now  come  to  give  an  Account  of  the  number  of 
fighting  Men  in  the  British  Empire  in  America,  dis- 
tinguished by  each  diff1  Colony  and  Plantation, 
including  his  Majesty's  regular  Forces  as  well  as  Pala- 
tines, Germans  &c:  the  Calculate  is  taken  from  the 
Years  of  Sixteen  to  Sixty,  by  Informations  given  me 
from  each  Colony  and  Plantation. 
In  Newfoundland  400 

"  New  England  and  Nova  Scotia"  38,000 

**  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island  -  8,000 

"  New  York  and  the  Jerseys  10,000 

'*  Pensylvania  &  the  lower  Countys  50, (MM) 

"  Maryland  10,000 

"  Virginia  12,000 

"  North  Carolina  2,000 

"  South  Carolina  4,000 

"  Georgia    •  l,ooo 

"  Bermuda  800 

"  New  Providence      -  450 

"  Jamaica       -  -  »     -  5,000 


90             ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

In  Antigua  2,200 

"  Mount  Serratt  600 

"  Novis      -  600 

"  Sl  Christopher's  -                                                  1,200 

"  Anguilla  150 

"  Spanish  Town  150 

"  Tortola  200 

;'  Barbados     -  4,500 


151,250 

I  believe  there  is  not  less  than  One  hundred  thousand 
Negroes  in  the  Colonys  on  the  Main  of  America. 

I  presume  it  will  not  be  disagreeable  to  give  You  a 
Small  Detail  of  the  Charges  attending  the  Sugar 
Islands  in  Planting  and  Manufacturing  their  Sugars; 
as  their  Charge  in  Negro  Slaves  is  the  greatest  of  their 
Expense,  I  shall  hereafter  give  You  the  Numbers  from 
the  exactest  Accounts,  and  that  distinguished  by  each 
different  Plantation  or  Island. 

Jamaica  has  Negroes  90,000 

Antigua  28,000 

S*  Christophers  20,000 

Nevis  9,000 

Mount  Serratt  -  9,000 

Virgin  Islands 
(viz?)  Anguilla  800  ) 

Spanish  Town  TOO  V  -  3,000 

Tortola  -        -        1,500  )  Barbados      -        T2,000 


231,000 

You'll  please  to  observe  there  are  two  hundred  and 
thirty  one  thousand  Negro  Slaves  belonging  and 
employ'd  in  the  British  Sugl"  Colonys,  which  being 
valued  at  £20  Stf  P  head  amounts  to  £4,620,000.  The 
Value  of  their  Sugar  Works,  Mills,  Stills,  Worms, 
Horses,  Cattle,  and  all  oth*  Necessarys  belonging  to 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  91 

a  Sugar  Plantation,  may  justly  be  valued  at  one  third 
the  amount  of  the  Negro  Slaves,  w*lh  at  that  Calcula- 
tion amounts  to  £1,540,000,  which  added  together 
makes  £6,160,000,  which  is  the  Value  of  the  Sugar 
Plantations,  abstract  of  the  Soil. 

Upon  the  foregoing  Observations  and  Calculations, 
I  believe,  You  will  think  that  the  British  Empire  of 
America  is  of  inestimable  value  to  the  Nation  of  Great 
Britain.  Please  to  observe  the  Trade  and  Fishery  of 
America,  abstract  of  Hudson's  Bay,  employs  3,085  Sail 
of  Vessells  of  different  Denominations  and  Burthen; 
allowing  eight  Men  to  navigate  each  Vessell,  there  is 
employ'd  in  that  Trade  only;  24,680  Mariners,  which  I 
think  is  a  fine  Nursery  for  our  Sailors. 

As  for  the  Revenue  arising  from  the  American 
Trade,  I  must  referr  to  those  that  are  acquainted  with 
the  Receipts  thereof. 

If  the  foregoing  l)e  acceptable  and  agreeable  to  You, 
it  fully  answers  my  intent;  if  any  Errors  in  the  Calcu- 
lations, its  wholly  owing  to  my  Informations,  tho'  I 
have  reason  to  think  it's  pretty  Just;  but  that  and  the 
whole  is  entirely  submitted  to  your  Superior  Judg- 
ment, and  I  always  am  with  Gratitude  and  Duty 

Your  Lordships  Most  Obedient  Humble  Servant 

London  April  1740  ROB?  DINWIDDIE 


Arguments    of    Richard  Partridge — relating    to  the 
Paper  Currency  in  America. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General  Volume  11,  N.  47.] 

Relating  to  the  Resolutions  of  the  House  of 
Commons  about  Paper  Currency.— Argu- 
ments urg'd  to  Sam!  Sandys  &  Alexf  Hume 
Cam'bell  Esq™ 

30?  April  1740. 
That  the  Kings  Proclamation  &  Orders  to  the  Sev- 


92  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

eral  Governors  of  this  [His?]  British  Plantations  in  con- 
sequence of  the  Addresses  of  the  House  would  be  very 
prejudicial  &  tend  to  putting  the  said  Plantations  into 
great  confusion  for  the  following  Eeasons.  — 

For  that  should  the  Proclamation  be  Issued  for 
reducing  Gold  &  Silver  Coin  agreeable  to  the 
Proclamation  of  Queen  Ann  viz  to  6-10?  p  oz.  for 
Silver  the  consequence  would  be  (if  it  took  effect) 
that  all  Comodities  would  unavoidably  Sink  in  pro- 
portion thereto  which  would  very  greatly  affect 
contracts  for  Goods  already  sold  to  the  ruin  of  many— 
to  the  prejudice  of  the  Merchants  Here  in  Engl?  as 
well  as  ye  people  there  That  people  not  having  the 
privilidge  of  Coining  any  Money  are  under  a  necessity 
of  a  medium  in  Trade  to  carry  on  their  Comerce; 
all  Gold  and  Silver  passing  there  as  Merchandize 
are  brought  [bought?]  up  to  make  returns  for  Goods 
imported  from  Great  Britain  they  being  constantly  in 
distress  for  want  of  a  sufficient  Supply  of  Such  Com- 
modities as  are  suitable  to  send  over  to  pay  for  the 
Goods  that  are  annually  sent  them  from  hence,  & 
consequently  the  people  there  are  allways  greatly  in 
debt  to  Great  Britain  which  makes  the  Ballance  of 
Trade  in  favour  of  the  latter  and  that  will  naturally 
drain  away  all  the  Gold  and  Silver  from  amongst  them 
That  should  the  people  in  ye  plantas  be  prohibited  from 
Issuing  Paper  Money  (without  which  they  cannot 
carry  on  their  Commerce  &  Trade)  it  would  yet  great- 
ly distress  them,  be  the  Ruin  of  many  Familys  &  be  a 
vast  hurt  to  the  several  Governments,  for  if  the  in- 
tended proclamation  &  the  Roal  [royal?]  order  of  prohi- 
bition take  Effect  the  consequence  would  be  that  as  all 
Landed  Estates  would  Sink  to  one  Fourth  part  of  the 
value,  the  Paper  Bills  now  currant  would  be  of  course 
equal  to  Gold  &  Silver— 20s  in  Bills  would  be  worth  20s 
in  Gold  &  Silvr 

The  said  Bills  when  first  Issued    were  Lent  out  on 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  93 

Land  Security  on  the  like  or  the  following  manner 
viz.  to  a  man  whose  Estate  was  worth  £1BOO  they 
lent  £1200  of  those  Bills  at  5  P'Cent  Interest  to  tje  re- 
paid in  7  or  10  years  time,  or  at  a  certain  Period  of 
time,  at  which  time  the  Bills  were  to  be  called  in  & 
Sunk  with  the  money  so  repaid  in  to  the  Goverment  & 
more  Issued  on  the  same  foot:  but  in  the  meantime 
out  comes  the  proclamation  &  Royal  Orders  whereby 
the  Coin  is  reduced,  the  Estate  sinks  in  Value  from 
£1600  to  £400  so  that  the  proprietor  loosses  his  whole 
Estate  because  he  took  up  £1200  upon  it,  which  the 
Government  has  the  mortgage  for,  the  mortgagor  is 
therefore  Ruined  &  the  Colony  looses  £800,  out  of  the 
£1200  they  lent,  &  must  be  yet  oblig'd  to  buy  up  their 
Bills  at  the  period  of  time  for  calling  them  in,  which 
would  greatly  distress  them  &  put  them  as  is  before 
said  into  the  utmost  confusion. 

That  as  to  the  Charter  Governments  they  have  from 
the  encouragement  given  them  by  their  Charters 
(Pticularly  Rhode  Island  for  whom  I  am  concern'd) 
Cultivated  &  Improved  a  Wilderness  Country,  &  de- 
fended it  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives  &  Estates  from 
the  Native  Indians  without  a  Shilling  Expence  to  the 
Crown  (tho'  its  well  known  other  Colonys  have  cost 
this  nation  many  Thousand  pounds)  that  they  have 
the  privilige  of  making  Laws  among  themselves  for 
the  good  ordering  of  their  Governments  so  as  they 
are  not  Repugnant  to  the  Laws  of  England  without 
being  obliged  to  transmit  them  home,  which  privilidge 
they  have  now  enjoyed  for  a  great  number  of  years,  & 
I  hop'd  that  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain  all  ways 
tender  of  Liberty  &  Property  will  not  now  deprive 
them  thereof,  especially  seeing  they  are  already  Crampt 
in  their  Foreign  Trade  &  are  of  so  great  advantage 
to  this  Kingdom,  by  taking  off  annually  considerable 
quantitys  of  its  manufactures, — and  then  I  particu- 
larly'described  and  Set  forth  the  nature  &  different 


94  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

manner  of  their  making  returns  from  the  plantations 
to  pay  for  those  Manufactures  &c? 

And  that  as  to  the  rise  in  the  Exchange  I  did  not 
apprehend  it  was  owing  to  the  Emission  of  Bills  of 
Credit  as  has  been  Suggested,  for  in  Pensilvania  New 
Jersey  &  New  York,  they  have  Emitted  considerable 
quantitys  &  yet  the  Exchange  there  had  not  advanc'd 
40  P  Cent  this  20  years,  but  that  the  occasion  of  so 
great  a  difference  in  the  Exchange  between  New  Eng- 
land and  Great  Britain  was  from  quite  another  Reason, 
as  that  they  were  so  constantly  overloaded  with 
Goods  from  England  &  always  largely  in  debt  for  want 
of  a  Supply  of  Returns  sufficient  to  pay  for  them, 
that  the  Factors  were  so  eager  in  buying  up  whatever 
Comoditys  was  brought  to  Market  Suitable  to  be  sent 
home  as  fast  as  ever  they  came,  that  they  bid  one 
upon  another  &  thereby  enhanced  the  prices  one  upon 
another  which  of  course  will  enevitably  raise  the  price 
of  Silver  &  Gold  &  that  is  certainly  what  governs  the 
Exchange. 


Report  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  from  the  Committee  of 
Council,  with  draft  of  an  additional  Instruction 
to  the  Governors  of  the  Plantations  in  America. 

To  the  Right  Honb|e  the  Lords  of  the  Committee 
of  his  Majestys  most  Hon.1?6  Privy  Council. 

My  Lords, 

Pursuant  to  your  Lordships  Order  of  the  1st  Instant 
We  have  reconsidered  the  Dra*  of  the  Additional  In- 
struction to  the  respective  Governors  of  his  Majesty's 
Colonies  &  Plantations  in  America,  requiring  and 
commanding  them  to  observe  his  Majesty's  Royal  In- 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOHRIS.  95 

structiori  which  directs,  That  the  Act  of  the  sixth  of 
the  Reign  of  Her  Majesty  Queen,  Anne,  Entituled,  An 
Act  for  ascertaining  the  Rates  of  foreign  Coins  in 
her  Majesttfs  Plantations  in  America,  be  punctually 
&  bona  fide  observed  and  put  in  Execution;  And  also 
his  Maj1?'8  Royal  Instruction  to  the  respective  Govern- 
ors not  to  give  Assent  to,  or  pass  any  Act,  whereby 
Bills  of  Credit  may  be  issued  in  lieu  of  money,  without 
a  Clause  be  inserted  in  such  Act,  declaring  that  the 
same  shall  not  take  Effect  until  the  said  Act  be  ap- 
proved by  His  Majesty;  and  herewith  take  Leave  to 
lay  the  said  Draught  of  an  Additional  Instruction  be- 
fore your  Lordships,  as  we  have  altered  the  same, 
We  are,  My  Lords 

Your  Lordships  &c.  &c. 
Whitehall  R  PLUMER  MONSON 

July  9th  1Y40  AR:  CROFT.  M.  BLADEN 


ADDITIONAL  INSTRUCTION  to  Edward  Trelawney  Esq? 
Gen!  and  Governor  in  chief  of  his  Majesty's  Island  of 
Jamaica,  &  the  Territories  depending  thereon  in 
America;  Or  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  or  the  said 
Island  for  the  time  being.  Given  at  Whitehall  the 
day  of  1740.  In  the  Year  of  his  Majesty's 
Reign. 

WHEREAS  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  past  in  the  6l.h 
Year  of  her  late  Majesty  Queen  Anne,  Entituled  An 
Act  for  ascertaining  the  Rates  of  foreign  Coins  in  her 
Majesty's  Plantations  in  America,  which  Act,  the  re- 
spective Governors  of  all  the  Plantations  in  America 
have,  from  time  to  time,  been  instructed  to  observe, 
and  carry  into  due  Execution;  And  Whereas  notwith- 
standing the  same,  Complaints  have  been  made  that 
the  said  Act  has  not  been  observed,  as  it  ought  to  have 
been,  in  many  of  his  Majesty's  Colonies  &  Plantations 


96  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORKIS.     [1740 

in  America,  by  means  whereof,  many  indirect  Prac- 
tices have  grown  up,  &  various  and  illegal  Currencies 
have  been  introduced  in  sev!  of  the  said  Colonies  & 
Plantations,  contrary  to  the  true  Intent  &  Meaning  of 
the  said  Act,  and  to  the  Prejudice  of  the  Trade  of  his 
Majesty's  Subjects.  In  consequence  of  which  Com- 
plaints, an  humble  Address  was  presented  the  last  Ses- 
sions, by  the  House  of  Commons  to  his  Majesty,  That 
be  wou'd  be  graciously  pleased  to  require  &  command 
the  respective  Governors  of  his  Colonies  &  Plantations 
in  America  effectually  to  observe  his  Majesty's  Royal 
Instruction,  directing  them,  That  the  Act  of  the  6th 
Year  of  the  Reign  of  her  Majesty  Queen  Anne,  enti- 
tled, An  Act  for  ascertaining  the  Rate  of  foreign 
Coins  in  her  Majesty's  Plantations  in  America,  be 
punctually  &  bona  fide  observed  and  put  in  Execution 
according  to  the  true  Intent  and  meaning  of  the  said 
Act.  It  is  therefore  His  Majesty's  Royal  Will  &  Pleas- 
ure, And  you  are  hereby  strictly  required  and  com- 
manded, under  Pain  of  his  Majesty's  highest  Displeas- 
ure, and  of  being  removed  from  your  Government,  to 
take  the  most  effectual  Care* for  the  future,  that  the 
said  Act  be  punctually  and  bona  fide  observed  and  put 
in  Execution,  according  to  the  true  intent  and  Mean- 
ing thereof. 

And  to  the  end  that  his  Majesty's  Commands  here- 
in may  be  fully  made  known  to  all  his  Subjects  with- 
in your  Government;  and  that  none  of  them  may  pre- 
tend Ignorance  thereof,  you  are  hereby  further  re 
quired  and  commanded  to  publish  this  Instruction  in 
such  Manner  as  may  best  answer  his  Majesty's  gra- 
cious Intentions  herein  signified. 

And  whereas,  for  preventing  the  many  &  great  In- 
conveniences that  had  arisen  in  some  of  his  Majesty's 
Colonies  &  Plantations  in  America,  by  passing  Laws 
for  Striking  Bills  of  Credit,  &  issuing  out  the  same,  in 
lieu  of  money,  the  respective  Governors  &  Command- 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOURI8.  97 

ers  in  chief  of  his  Majesty's  Colonies  and  Plantations 
for  the  time*  being,  have  been  particularly  instructed 
not  to  give  their  Assent  to  or  pass  any  such  laws  for 
the  future,  without  a  Clause  be  inserted  in  such  Act, 
declaring  that  the  same  shall  not  take  Effect,  until  the 
said  Act  shall  have  been  approved  and  confirm'd  by 
his  Majesty  his  Heirs  or  Successors:  And  whereas 
notwithstanding  such  his  Majesty's  Commanders  [?J  to 
the  said  Governors  in  that  behalf,  Paper  Bills  of  Credit 
have  been  created  &  issued  in  his  Majesty's  said  Colo- 
nies &  Plantations  by  Virtue  of  Acts  of  Assembly 
there,  making  it  obligatory  on  all  Persons  to  take  such 
Bills  of  Credit,  in  payment  for  Debts,  Dues  &  De- 
mands, whereby  the  good  Intention  of  the  aforemen- 
tion'd  Act  of  the  6'.h  of  her  late  Maj7  Queen  Anne,  for 
ascertaining  the  rates  of  foreign  Coins  in  her  Majesty's* 
Plantations  in  Ameiica,  has  been  frustrated,  and  a 
great  Discouragement  has  been  bro'  on  the  Com'erce 
of  this  Kingdom  by  occasioning  a  Confusion  in  Deal- 
ings and  a  lessening  of  Credit  in  those  Parts:  And 
whereas  an  humble  Address  was  presented,  the  last 
Session,  by  the  House  of  Commons,  to  his  Majesry, 
That  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  require  &  com- 
mand the  respective  Governors  of  his  Colonies  & 
Plantations  in  America,  punctually  &  effectually  to 
observe  his  Majl.y8  Royal  Instructions  not  to  give  As- 
sent to  or  to  pass  any  Act,  whereby  Bills  of  Credit 
may  be  issued  in  lieu  of  money,  without  a  Clause  be 
inserted  in  such  Act,  declaring  that  the  same  shall  be 
approved  by  his  Majesty: 

It  is  therefore  his  Majesty's  Will  &  Pleasure,  &  you 
are  hereby  also  further  required  &  comanded  under 
pain  of  his  Majesty's  highest  displeasure  and  of  being 
removed,  from  your  Governm'  punctually  &  effectually 
to  observe  his  Majesty's  Royal  Instruction  not  to  give 
Assent  to  or  pass  any  Act,  whereby  Bills  of  Credit  may 
be  issued  in  lieu  of  money  without  a  Clause  be  inserted 
8 


98  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

in  such  Act,  declaring  that  the  same  shall  not  take 
Effect,  until  the  said  Act  shall  be  approved  by  his  Maj- 
esty, his  Heirs  or  Successors. 

[N.  B.  A  like  Instruction  (mutatis  mutandis)  was 
prepared  for  the  Governors  of  the  other  colonies  and 
West  India  islands.] 


Letter  from  Mr.  Carkesse,  Secretary  to  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Customs — relative  to  a  Glass  House 
erected  in  New  Jersey. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  IV,  F.  S7.] 

To  Thomas  Hill  Esqf  Secretary  to  the  Lords 
Comis™  for  Trade  &  Plantations. 

Sir, 

W.  William  Frasor  Collector  of  the  Customs  at  Salem 
in  West  Jersey  having  informed  the  Commissioners, 
that  there  has  lately  been  Erected  a  Glass  work  within 
Eight  miles  of  that  Port  by  one  Casper  Wester1  a 
Palatine,  and  is  brought  to  perfection  so  as  to  make 
Glass:  I  am  directed  to  give  you  an  Account  thereof 
for  the  Information  of  the  Lords  of  Trade. 
I  am  Sir 

Your  most  humble  Serv' 

CHA  CARKESSE. 
Custom  h?  London 
31:  July  1740. 


1  CASPAR  WISTAR  was  father  of  the  Professor  of  Anatomy,  Physician  and  Author, 
who  subsequently  became  distinguished  in  Philadelphia.— ED. 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  99 


Letter  from  Governor  Lewis  Morris  to  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle — about  the  raising  of  troops  in  Neiv 
Jersey. 

(From  P.  R.  O.  America  and  West  Indies,  Vol.  XII,  p.  249. J 

On  his  Majesties  Service  To  his  Grace  the  Duke 
of  Newcastle  his  Majesties  principall  Secre- 
tary of  State  at  White  Hall  These 

Burlington  31"*  August  1740 

May  it  Please  your  Grace. 

The  short  notice  I  have  had  of  this  Conveyance  (and 
wch  its  doubted  whether  I  shall  reach)  give  me  only 
time  to  inform  your  Grace  that  we  have  raised  in  this 
Province  three  companies  of  one  hundred  men  each 
which  have  been  compleated  for  some  time.  Had 
Commissions  come  for  Officers  as  was  expected  from 
Your  Graces  letter  and  his  Majesties  Instructions  I 
could  easily  have  rais'd  two  more:  but  no  more  commis- 
sions being  sent  than  for  two  companies  prov'd  a  great 
discouragement,  and  rendered  it  difficult  to  raise  more 
at  this  time  that  I  have  done. 

I  have  got  also  from  the  Assembly  £2000  for  to  hire 
transports  and  purchase  provisions  but  of  this  I  shall 
be  more  full  when  I  transmit  their  Acts  and  proceed- 
ings. They  have  Appointed  Managers  and  as  I  am 
told  by  them  the  provisions  are  purchased  and  trans- 
ports hyred  for  their  transportation  &  I  am  in  hopes 
we  shall  be  ready  to  send  them  from  hence  about  the 
20l.h  of  September.  I  am 

My  Lord  Your  Graces  most  humble 

and  Obedient  Servant' 
LEWIS  MORRIS 

1  See  "  Papers  of  GOT.  Morrte,"  p.  107. 


100          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 


Letter  from    Governor  Morris  to  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle— upon  New  Jersey  affairs. 

IFrom  P.  R.  O.  America  and  West  Indies  Vol.  12,  p.  230.] 

Burlington  October  1.8th  1740. 

/• 

May  it  Please  your  Grace 

I  receiv'd  your  graces  of  the  5th  of  Jan'ry  1739-40  on 
the  10th  of  April  following  via  Virginia,  and  on  the  24th 
of  June  via  New  York  a  Second  of  April  ye  5th  with 
his  Majesties  Instructions  concerning  the  Intended 
expedition  again"*  the  Spaniards  in  the  West  Indies. 
Your  Graces  first  letter  came  to  hand  upon  the  first 
meeting  of  our  assembly,  and  I  recommended  the  affair 
to  them  as  your  Grace  will  see  at  the  end  of  my 
Speech  made  to  them  at  their  meeting;  whic1'  comes 
inclosed,  and  I  afterwards  published  (pursuant  to  your 
Graces  direction)  the  inclosed  proclamation,  and  upon 
receipt  of  your  Graces  second  letter  with  his  Majesties 
Instructions  (the  Assembly  being  then  sitting)  I  com- 
municated to  them  what  his  Majestie  required  of  them, 
and  earnestly  press'd  them  to  comply  with  his  Majesties 
8th  Instruction;  as  your  Grace  will  see  by  my  Speech 
to  them  on  yl  head. 

They  could  not  handsomely  directly  deny  what  was 
in  so  strong  terms  required  of  them,  but  was  far  from 
having  any  inclination  to  do  it;  and  would  fain  have 
shuffled  it  off,  under  pretence  of  waiting  to  see  what 
their  neighbours  of  Pensilvania,  and  New  York  would 
do;  and  accordingly  sent  me  a  message  desiring  leave 
to  Adjourne  for  a  fortnight. — I  too  well  gues'd  what 
was  to  be  expected  from  the  Assembly es  of  either  of 
these  provinces  (as  they  then  stood)  to  comply  with 
their  requests  in  this  case;  which  plainly  appear'd  to 
me  to  be  made  with  intent  to  evade  the  doing  what  his 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          101 

Majestie  required  of  them;  and  belie v'd  that  if  I  per- 
mitted them  to  Adjourne,  and  discover  the  inclinations 
of  their  neighbours  in  York  and  Pensilvania,  ye  Conse- 
quen"  would  be  either  that  nothing  would  be  done,  or 
much  less  than  would  be  procured  at  a  time  when  they 
could  not  well  know  the  Sentiments  of  those  people; 
and  therefore  wrote  the  inclosed  letter  in  answer  to 
their  message;  and  kept  them  together. 

They  then  entred  upon  it,  and  sent  up  a  bill  for  the 
raising  of  two  thousand  pounds  for  transporting  troops 
&c  w6.11  comes  inclos'd  with  the  others.  This  bill 
instead  of  raising  any  money,  only  applied  money  al- 
ready rais'd,  and  apply'd  for  the  Support  of  Govern- 
ment by  other  acts. 

They  omitted  making  provision  for  other  necessaries 
as  required  by  the  8th   Instruction,  and  made  their 
Managers  only  Accountable  to  y6  assembly;  and  (in 
the  opinion  of  the  Councill)  the  whole  bill  was  Very 
confus'd  and  scarce  intelligible;  so  that  a  conferance 
was  desired  with  them  upon  it,  which  with  much  ado 
was  Obtained;  but  without  Effect;  the  assembly  being 
predetermined  not  to  admit  of  any  alteration  to  what 
they  were  pleas'd  to  call  a  money  bill;  and  it  was  sup- 
pos'd  that  the  true  reason  of  drawing  of  it  in  the  man- 
ner it  was  done  was  to  defeat  the  doing  of  the  thing 
required  of  them;  because  they  eonciev'd  neither  the 
councill,  or  I,  could,  or  would  assent  to  it  in  the  man- 
ner drawn,  however,  the  councill  (for  reasons  that  will 
appeare  to  your  grace  in  their  minutes)  chose  to  assent 
to  it  rather  than  lose  ye  bill.     I  had  talk'd  with  severall 
of  them,  who  seem'd  to  agree  that  the  amendments 
proposal   were  reasonable,  &  I  had  still  hopes  y1  they 
might  be  prevailed  upon  to  come  into  other  measures; 
&  therefore  (after  the  councill  had  agreed  to  the  bill) 
1  adiournd  for  about  a  fortnight  to  get  in  their  harvest 
thinking  that  might  gain  upon  them  and   on  their 
meeting  Spoke  to  them  as  your  Grace  will  see  by  the 


102          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

inclosed;  but  without  Effect:  for  they  would  not  de- 
part from  the  bill  they  had  drawn  nor  come  into 
the  making  a  Law  against  mutiny  and  desertion 
which  in  his  Majesties  name  I  recomended  to  them, 
finding  all  the  methods  in  my  power  ineffectual!  to  get 
a  bill  of  a  better  forme,  I  consented  to  it  as  they  and 
the  councill  had  pass'd  it;  at  the  same  time  declaring 
against  its  being  brought  in  future  times  for  a 
precedent,  as  your  Grace  will  see  by  my  Speech  at  the 
prorogation  of  them. 

I  have  raised  three  companies,  and  could  easily 
have  raised  five  had  a  number  of  blank  commissions 
been  sent,  as  was  expected  from,  your  Graces  letter 
and  his  Majesties  instructions;  but  there  coming  no 
more  than  two  for  this  Province  rendred  the  raising 
more  than  three  companies  impracticable  at  that  time. 

These  companies  are  all  (but  about  eighteen  or 
twenty  men)  raised  in  the  Eastern  division  of  new 
Jersie,  and  I  am  told  not  above  three  servants  amongst 
them  and  those  no  long  time  to  serve. 

Your  Grace  will  see  by  what  comes  with  this  the 
difficulties  I  have  had  to  prevaile  upon  our  assembly  to 
come  into  the  doing  of  any  thing  with  respect  to  the 
transporting  the  forces  rais'd  here  and  finding  them 
provisions,  which  they  left  no  craft  they  were  masters 
of  unessay'd  to  avoid;  and  I  was  under  a  necessity  of 
assenting  to  their  bill  against  my  own  inclinations 
rather  than  lose  the  use  of  £2000  for  that  purpose, 
which  cost  them  not  one  groat;  but,  was  part  of  what 
was  Appropriated  to  ye  Support  of  his  Majesties  gov- 
ernment: But  it  being  for  his  Majesties  service  as 
things  were  then  circumstanced,  I  humbly  hope  his 
Majestie  will  be  graciously  pleas'd  to  approve  of  my 
conduct  in  that  case. 

I  have  at  last  sent  these  companies  off,  one  under 
the  Command  of  Captn  george  Thomas  &  his  Officers, 
another  undr  the  command  of  Cap1  James  Hooper  and 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          103 

his  Officers,  to  whom  I  gave  the  two  commissions  sent 
me  by  Coll0  Blakeney,  the  third  under  the  command 
of  Capt"  Robert  Farmer  and  his  Officers,  to  whom  I 
gave  by  Coll0  Blakenys  direction  Certificates  that  they 
might  recieve  commissions  from  Lord  Cathcart  at  the 
place  of  Rendezvous  in  the  West  Indies.  Hoopers  with 
part  of  Thomas's  company  sailed  from  Sandy  hook 
with  Coll0  Blakeney  on  the  twelth  past,  Thomas  and 
Farmer  with  the  rest  Sayled  from  hence  on  the  14th  in 
Order  to  Joyn  them  at  the  Capes  of  Virginia;  that  be- 
ing the  place  they  were  directed  to  be  sent  by  Coll0 
Gooch. 

The  £2000  appointed  here  to  transport  these  forces 
was  not  sufficient  for  the  purpose  intended,  and  ren- 
dred  it  very  difficult  to  be  done;  the  people  here  (from 
some.conduct  of  those  concern'd  in  the  time  of  Queen 
Anne  relating  to  the  Canada  expedition  some  of  the 
bills  drawn  then  remaining  (as  is  said)  long  unpay'd 
(if  as  yet  paid)  or  for  what  other  reasons  I  know  not) 
are  veiy  diffident  of  Government  bills,  or  pretend  to 
be  so;  and  what  adds  to  the  difficulty,  is  the  Scarcity 
of  Currency  viz  paper  bills,  w**  here  are  hardly  suffi- 
cient for  Ordinary  concernes;  for,  Such  of  them  as  the 
industrious  husband  men  recieve  for  their  grain  and 
other  produce,  is  generally  hoarded  in  Order  to  make 
purchases  of  Ijand  for  their  children,  vfk  lessens  the 
currency;  But,  were  they  all  currant  and  would  serve 
for  Ordinary  Occasions,  yet  such  quantities  of  them  as 
would  be  necessary  on  such  an  extraordinary  Ocasion 
as  this  are  not  in  the  hands  of  Merchants  here  &  can- 
not be  procured  in  York,  or  Pensilvania  but  with  much 
difficulty;  however,  with  much  ado  I  have  got  it  done, 
on  the  promise  of  drawing  for  what  the  charge 
amounted  to  more  than  the  £2ooo;  but,  how  much 
more  it  has  ammounted  to  I  do  not  know,  the  accounts 
being  not  Sent  in . 

One  third  of  the  western  diversion  [division*]  (which 


104          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

lyes  upon  the  Delaware)  being  of  the  people  call'd  Qua- 
kers makes  it  more  difficult  to  raise  men  in  that  part 
than  in  the  Eastern  where  their  numbers  are  inconsid- 
erable; and  they  cannot  consistant  with  their  Princi- 
ples encourage  any  thing  that  relates  to  War,  even  a 
defensive  one;  which  will  render  Pensilvania,  and  this 
part  of  this  Province  an  Easy  Prey  to  an  Enemy,  &  of 
dangerous  consequence,  if  some  measures  be  not  fallen 
upon  to  prevent  it;  which  it  will  be  impracticable  to 
do  by  any  militia,  or  other  Act  here  or  m  Pensilvania 
where  those  People  are  admitted  to  have  a  share  in 
Legislation.  They  are  generally  a  laborious,  honest 
&  Industrious  people,  but  want  not  their  share  of 
craft;  and  are  unaccountable  Obstinate  and  tenacious; 
wc.h  Joyn'd  with  their  principle  of  non  resistance 
whether  reall  or  feignd,  and  their  refusing  to  take  or 
administer  an  oath  being  inconsistant  with  Magistracy, 
renders  them  not  so  fit  as  they  otherwise  would  be  to 
b:  admitted  into  assemblyes  and  offices  of  Govern- 
ment; and  in  case  of  having  a  militia  very  difficult  to 
be  governed. 

About  thirty  yeares  since  there  was  a  militia  act  in 
force  here  something  better  calculated  for  the  purpose 
than  that  now  in  use  which  those  call'd  Quakers 
would  by  no  meanes  (on  pretence  of  conscience)  Obey; 
and  while  they  were  unmolested  &  not  distraind  on  — 
laugh'd  at  those  who  did;  this  made  others  murmur 
who  were  oblig'd  to  trayne  and  muster,  and  encour- 
aged their  refusing  to  do  so;  they  clayming  as  much 
right  to  an  exemption  from  trayning  as  the  Quakers. 
This  being  Judg'd  at  that  time  inconvenient,  the  Offi- 
cers were  Ordered  to  make  distresses  pursuant  to  the 
Act;  and  (not  being  Quakers)  perhaps  put  it  in  execu- 
tion with  more  vigour  than  they  should  have  done. 
This  was  call'd  persecution  for  conscience  Sake,  and 
the  Quakers  grew  fond  of  what  they  call'd  suffering, 
and  gloried  in  the  doing  so,  calling  it  a  suffring  for 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS   MORRIS.          105 

the  Lords  sake;  Stores  were  filled  with  distrain'd 
goods,  such  as  hats,  shoes,  coats,  breeches,  saddles 
bridles  &c,  but  no  body  would  buy  them  when  offred 
to  sale;  and  the  governours  residing  most  of  their  time 
in  New  York,  the  reines  of  Government  were  held 
with  so  slack  an  hand  that  trayning  has  been  in  A 
manner  disus'd,  there  having  been  none  ever  us'd  in 
Pensilvania. 

The  Officers  that  were  here  are  most  of  them  dead 
and  its  difficult  to  get  others  to  supply  their  places  in 
a  part  of  the  country  where  millitary  offices  will  be 
^troublesome  to  those  that  have  them,  and  their  quaker 
neighbours  disgusted  at  the  Officers  for  being  such, 
unless  they  leave  quakers  intirely  unmolested  &  the 
Act  uncomply'd  with  in  their  case. 

This  is  the  state  of  defence  of  the  western  division 
of  new  Jersie  which  lyes  open  upon  the  Navigable 
river  Delaware  for  about  150  miles  and  between  70 
and  80  upon  the  Sea  coast. 

In  the  Eastern  Division  of  this  Province  the  case  is 
somewhat  better,  they  have  trayn'd  much  Oftner,  tho' 
but  seldom,  there  are  five  regiments  there  of  Millitia. 
&  I  am  in  hopes  to  get  two  or  three  troops  of  horse: 
and  in  some  time  to  get  them  into  some  better  Order 
than  they  have  been  for  many  yeares:  but,  they  have 
been  so  long  and  so  much  neglected,  the  militia  Act  so 
deficient  and  Armes  so  much  wanted,  that  it  will 
require  time  to  do  it 

Your  Grace  will  see  by  the  minutes  of  councill  here- 
with sent  that  I  have  Suspended  three  of  the  councill 
by  the  advice  and  consent  of  that  board :  two  of  them 
were  discharged  at  their  own  desire;  and  one  of  them 
for  not  Attending  I  had  before  that  discharg'd  another 
viz  John  Schuyler  at  his  own  desire. 

This  Schuyler  is  part  owner  with  his  two  brothers 
of  the  famous  Jersy  Coppermine,  and  is  Intrusted  with 
the  management  of  it,  he  had  often  earnestly  press'd 


106          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

me  to  be  discharg'd,  protesting  he  could  not  attend  the 
councill  without  the  greatest  prejudice  to  his  private 
affairs,  which  indeed  I  believe  was  true,  but  I  was  loth 
to  discharge  him,  because  he  was  a  man  of  good  sence 
and  great  interest  in  his  neighborhood  and  withall 
firmly  in  the  interest  of  the  present  Government; 
however,  his  attendance  at  the  distance  from  his  habi- 
tation at  the  places  that  I  am  to  hold  councills  And 
assemblyes  in  being  of  so  great  hurt  to  his  private 
affaires  I  at  last  consented  to  dismiss  him.  Your 
Grace  may  observe  by  the  minutes  that  I  had  but  once 
Seaven  councellors  together,  and  that  three  times  I 
had  Six;  but  besides  these  times  could  never  get  above 
five  of  them  together — Sometimes  four,  but  offner 
onely  three.  John  Wills  one  of  those  who  desired  to 
be  dismiss'd  is  an  Old  Quaker  of  above  four  score  and 
goes  double  he  Dwells  about  Six  miles  from  this,  and 
would  not  attend  the  councill  becaused  they  had  hyred 
a  room  to  sit  in  about  twenty  rod  farther  from  his 
lodging  than  he  would  have  had  it,  and  finding  they 
persisted  in  using  the  room  they  had  hyred,  came  to 
take  his  leave  of  me  &  told  me  he  was  no  longer  able 
by  reason  of  his  Age  and  infirmities  to  attend  the 
councill  &  I  willingly  consented  to  his  departure.  Van 
Home  declin'd  comming  as  much  as  he  could, *but 
finding  the  councill  insisted  on  his  presence  and  had 
sent  an  Officer  to  bring  him,  desired  to  be  dismissed 
wch  j;  granted.  Provoost  the  third  suspended  would 
not  attend  tho  an  officer  was  sent  for  him;  &  indeed 
had  all  attended  that  are  dismiss'd  none  of  them  but 
Schuler  would  have  been  of  much  use  to  me  or  the 
Publikk. 

Your  Grace  may  see  that  I  have  b-aen  by  the  non 
attendance  of  the  members  under  a  necessity  of  acting 
with  a  very  thin  Councill  which  is  inconvenient  and  a 
meanes  of  bringing  that  part  of  the  Legislature  into 
contempt,  which  the  conduct  of  these  dismiss'd  had 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          107 

they  not  been  suspended  would  not  have  a  little  con- 
tributed to,  they  being  very  unequall  to  the  charge 
they  had  undertaken;  but  had  they  been  as  well  quali- 
fied for  these  stations  as  men  could  be,  yet  the  distance 
of  their  habitations  from  each  other  and  from  Amboy 
or  Burlington  where  (by  the  present  constitution)  I  am 
to  hold  assemblyes,  makes  their  attendance  very 
inconvenient  to  themselves;  and  that,  with  their  not 
having  any  allowance  but  when  the  assembly  Sits, 
and  then  a  very  Small  one,  are  the  causes  that  I  can- 
not easily  get  a  councill  together  when  there  is  Occa- 
sion for  them.  To  make  it  easy  to  them  I  condesended 
to  have  quarterly  meetings  with  them  unless  matters 
of  great  moment  required  their  attendance  sooner;  but 
notwithstanding  this  they  have  not  attended. 

The  councill  by  these  Suspentions  were  reduced  to 
Six  inhabitants  of  Jersey,  and  one  (viz  James  Allex- 
ander)  of  New  York,  who  being  building  there  has  not 
attended  (I  think  once)  but  upon  his  own  busines 
either  the  late  or  former  Sessions  of  the  assembly;  so 
that  pursuant  to  his  Majesties  Instructions  I  named 
one  viz  Peter  Bayntbn  of  this  place  to  make  up  Seaven 
residents  in  this  Province.  He  is  A  man  of  Superior 
Sence  to  most  here  has  a  good  estate,  is  a  considerable 
trader  hereabouts  and  is  heartily  well  affected  to  the 
present  Government.  He  was  by  the  Assembly  named 
a  trustee  for  the  hyring  ships  and  buying  provisions 
for  transporting  the  troops  raised  here,  and  the  Only 
one  that  was  not  a  member  of  their  house,  which  I 
question  if  they  would  have  done,  had  they  in  the 
least  suspected  that  I  would  have  Appointed  him  to 
have  filled  up  the  deficiency  of  the  councill;  and  to 
this  Mr  Baynton  it  is  chiefly  if  not  solely  owing,  that  I 
have  been  able  to  send  these  troops  off,  he  having 
advanced  much  on  that  score;  the  other  trustees 
appointed  by  the  Assembly  acting  (either  by  chance 


108          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

or  designe)  as  if  they  meant  to  retard,  if  not  defeat 
the  Enterprise. 

The  holding  of  Assemblys  alternately  at  Amboy, 
and  Burlington,  &  keeping  two  Secretarys  offices, 
proves  very  inconvenient  both  to  the  officers  of  the 
Government,  and  the  People;  the  assembly  Acknowl- 
edge it  to  be  so,  tho'  they  will  not  Agree  upon  the  one 
place  to  fix  the  seat  of  Government  in,  but  have  left 
the  nomination  of  that  to  me;  which  I  have  hitherto 
declined  doing. 

Perth  Amboy  named  from  the  Earle  of  Perth  who 
follow'd  the  fortunes  of  the  late  King  James,  is  a  poor 
inconsiderable  place;  and  there  is  little  probability  of 
its  being  much  better.  The  Town  or  City  of  Burling- 
ton, whose  inhabitants  are  mostly  quakers  far  exceeds 
the  other;  but  was  neare  as  large  twenty  years  since 
as  now,  and  there  is  little  likelyhood  of  its  growing 
much  larger. 

They  are  both  Inconsiderable  places  and  like  to  re- 
main so;  neither  of  them  fit  for  the  seat  of  Govern- 
ment, nor  so  conveniently  Scituated  for  that  purpose 
as  some  others. 

It  would  be  a  great  convenience  to  the  People  in 
generall,  and  to  the  Governours  and  Secretaries  for  the 
time  being,  and  officers  of  the  government,  to  have  it 
fixed  to  Some  one  place;  and  therefore  I  humbly  hope 
his  Majesties  will  be  graciously  pleas'd  to  permit  the 
doing  of  it,  notwithstanding  the  Instruction  of  hold- 
ing of  the  Assemblyes  alternatively  at  Amboy  and 
Burlington,  which  tho'  they  were  the  most  convenient 
places  fourty  yeares  Since,  when  the  Surrender  of 
this  Government  to  the  Crown  was  transacted,  are  by 
no  meanes  so  at  this  day,  or  likely  ever  to  be  so;  nor 
is  the  Scituation  of  the  Landed  Interest  of  those  who 
made  that  surrender,  and  which  induced  them  to  pro- 
pose the  alternate  Sittings  in  those  two  places,  the 
same  now  as  then,  but  quite  different;  and  the  reasons 
for  their  doing  so  not  subsisting  at  this  time. 


lt40]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          109 

The  order  of  the  councell  as  they  now  stand,  and 

their  numbers  in  each  Division  are  as  follows,  viz 

/ 

their  Rank  for  the  Eastern        Rank  for  the  Western 

Division.  Division. 

1  John  Hamilton  -2  John  Reading 

3  James  Allexander,  who  3  |4*]  John  Rodman, 

resides  at  New  York.  5  Richard  Smith      »" 

6  Robert  Hunter  Morris 

7  Fenwick  Lyell  S  Peter  Bayntou  appoint- 

ed by  me  and  makes  the 
71.'1   Residing  C1ouncellr 

As  the  Councell  Stood  in  his  Majesties  Instructions 
to  me,  there  was  Eight  of  the  Eastern,  and  but  four  of 
the  western  division,  at  which  those  of  the  western  di- 
vision seem'd  to  express  some  dissatisfaction;  but,  by 
the  death  of  Mr  Hooper,  and  the  dismission  of  the 
others,  if  his  Majestie  approves  of  it,  and  of  the  nomi- 
nation of  Mr  Baynton  they  are  now  equall,  or  rather 
superior;  Mr  Allexander  rarely  (as  yet)  attending. — If 
they  stand  as  they  do,  there  will  still  two  be  wanting 
in  each  division  to  make  up  the  Number  of  twelve  in 
the  whole. — In  the  western  Division  there  are  not  so 
many  fit  for  that  Station  who  dwell  conveniently  to 
be  got  together  (that  are  not  quakers)  as  in  the  East- 
ern ;  and  it  being  difficult  (even  as  they  now  Stand  to 
get  a  councill  to  meet,  I  humbly  recommend  Archi- 
bald Home  the  Deputy  Secretary  for  one  of  them:  his 
Office  as  clerk  of  the  councill  obliging  him  to  A  Con- 
stant attendance,  and  will  render  the  having  a  full 
councill  more  practicable  than  it  has  hitherto  been; 
but,  how  far  your  Grace  will  think  it  fit,  that  he 
Should  rise  in  rank,  in  case  of  death,  dej  arture,  or 
Suspention  of  other  (he  not  desiring  or  expecting  it)  is 
Submitted. 

The  other  I  presume  to  recomend  for  this  western 


110          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1740 

division  is  John  Allen  the  present  Treasurer  of  it.  I 
well  know  the  man  he  has  the  character  of  a  very  hon- 
est man. 

As  to  the  Eastern  division,  the  generall  proprietors 
of  the  Soyle  Seem  to  expect  a  Share  with  others  in  the 
Administration  and  its  said  some  of  them  are  some- 
what uneasy  on  that  score,  to  take  off  any  uneasyness 
of  that  kind  I  recomend  Richard  Ashfield  who  ownes 
A  whole  proprietie  or  24th  part  of  the  Eastern  Division 
&  something  more.  I  take  him  to  be  an  honest  man 
and  very  firm  in  the  Interest  of  the  present  Govern- 
ment; as  indeed  are  all  I  recom'end  The  other  Vacancy 
in  the  Eastern  Division  I  recommend  to  be  fill'd  by 
Edward  Antill;  he  is  a  man  of  good  Estate  &  Sence, 
and  if  admitted  to  that  board,  I  hope  and  believe  will 
prove  an  usefull  and  deserving  member  of  it.  But  this 
and  every  thing  Else  Propos'd  by  me  is  most  humbly 
submitted  by  My  Lord 

Your  Graces  Most  Obedient  and 
most  humble  Servant 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 

[The  Collections  of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  So- 
ciety, Vol.  IV,  published  1852,  contains  all  the  cor- 
respondence of  Governor  Morris,  preserved  in  the 
library  of  the  Society;  it  will  be  found,  therefore,  that 
it  has  been  deemed  unnecessary,  with  very  few  excep- 
tions, to  reproduce  in  this  series  the  documents  con- 
tained in  that  volume;  as  a  reference  to  them  there, 
attended,  as  they  are,  by  much  explanatory  matter, 
will  be  of  greater  service  than  the  documents  alone 
would  be  if  reprinted  here. — ED.] 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION"  OF  UOVKKN'OK  LEWIS  MORRIS.  Ill 


Communication  from  Captain  Thomlinson  to  Secre- 
tary Thomas  Hill — inclosing  Schemes  for  put- 
ting the  paper  money  in  America  on  a  better 
footing. 

I  From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  Plantation*  General,  No.  11.  N.49.] 

To  Thomas  Hill  Esqr  at  Whitehall 

Sir 

Since  I  had  the  Honour  of  Waiting  on  the  Lords 
Commiss™  for  Trade  &  Plantations  on  the  affair  of 
Paper  Money  in  America,  I  have  turn'd  my  thoughts 
that  way,  And  indeed  I  think  it  is  a  most  dificult  affair, 
and  of  no  less  consequence  to  the  plantations  and  all 
of  us  that  are  concern'd  with  them,  Therefore  I  have 
inclosed  you  the  outlines  of  a  Scheme,  that  may  very 
easily  be  earned  into  execution,  and  for  anything  I 
can  yet  See,  If  it  is  duely  Executed  may  produce  a 
general  good. 

If  their  Lordships  think  it  worthy  of  Consideration 
and  any  thing  therein  Should  want  to  be  explain'd,  I 
will  upon  the  least  notice  wait  upon  their  Lordships, 
and  am  with  great  Truth. 

Sir  Your  most  obed1  humb1  Servt 
Great  Trinity  Lane  JOHN  THOMLINSON 

129H'  Octr  1740. 


For  want  of  a  Staple  in  our  Northern  American 
Colonys,  it  is  Impossible  for  Silver  or  Gold  to  continue 
to  be  a  Medium,  Therefore  Somthing  else  must  be 
Substituted  in  it's  Stead. 

And  I  humbly  apprehend  what  in  such  case  is  now 
to  be  done  is, 

First,  To  call  in  all  the  outstanding  Bills  of  Credit 


112          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

in  those  Colonys,  at  the  appointed  time,  in  the  easiest 
and  best  manner. 

Secondly,  To  proportion  a  Sum  for  the  Currency  of 
each  Colony,  Sufficient  to  Carry  on  the  Trade  and 
Business  of  the  Said  Colony. 

Thirdly,  To  put  that  Medium  upon  Such  a  founda- 
tion that  it's  value  shall  not  alter,  but  Shall  continue  to 
hold  the  Same  proportion  to  Sterling  Silver  so  long  as 
it  shall  be  allowed  to  pass. 

Fourthly,  To  reduce  or  bring  the  Currency  as  near 
Proclamation  Money  as  possible,  and  in  the  easiest  & 
Best  Manner. 

—Now  the  Method  I  would  propose  for  doeing  all 
This,  is  as  follows 

I  would  Suppose  a  Colony  whose  Taxes  amounts  to 
about  £3000  pr  An™  Bills  of  credit  at  the  present  rate 
of  28s  per  ounce  Sterling  Silver,  and  the  Sum  of  £67275 
of  the  Same  Bills  of  credit  would  be  a  Currency  Suffi- 
cient to  carry  on  the  Trade  &  Business  of  the  Said 
Colony. 

1st  That  £67275  in  Bills  of  Credit,  at  the  rate  of  28s 
proz  SterB  Silver  Should  be  Struck  off,  from  Bills  of  Is 
to  Bills  of  £5  (as  usual)  to  be  a  currency  for  Twelve 
Years,  and  no  longer;— And  That  £24000  of  Said  Bills 
of  Credit  Shall  be  emed'ately  Signd,  and  lent  out  upon 
good  Land  Security,  not  more  than  £1000  to  any  one 
person,  or  less  then  £100.  and  at  the  rate  of  5  prCent 
pr  annum  Intrest,  The  principal  to  be  paid  inn  at  four 
equal  payments,  Viz1  J  part  at  the  end  of  Three  years, 
i  part  at  the  end  of  Six  years,  i  part  at  the  end  of 
nine  years,  and  the  remaining  £  at  the  end  of  Twelve 
years,  And  no  other  Bills  of  credit  whatsoever  Shall 
be  taken  or  received  for  Taxes,  intrest  or  principal, 
but  Bills  of  credit  of  this  Tennor,  or  Silver  coin  after 
the  rate  of  28s  pr  Oz. 

2d  And  on  all  payments  of  Taxes  intrest  or  princi- 
pal pun[c]tually  made  in  these  Bills  of  credit,  An  allow- 


174:0]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          113 

ance  Shall  be  made  to  the  persons  making  Such  pay- 
ments of  2£  pr  cent  discount,  But  upon  all  payments 
made  in  Silver  at  28s  pr  oz  no  discount  Shall  be  made. 

3d  And  besides  £24000  lent  upon  good  Land  Security, 
all  other  Bills  of  Credit  outstanding  in  the  said  prov- 
ince, Shall  be  brought  inn  in  Six  Months  time  and  ex- 
changed for  Bills  of  credit  of  this  New  Tennor,  or 
Shall  be  lost  to  the  Possessor.  And  the  remainder  of 
the  s(1  £67275  Shall  remain  in  the  Treasury,  to  be  signd 
and  issued  out  as  the  Necessitys  of  the  Province  Shall 
require. 

4.  And  at  the  end  of  Six  Years  after  the  first  Em- 
mission  of  the  aforesaid  £67275  Bills  of  Credit,  at 
which  time  more  then  half  the  Said  Sum  will  be 
brought  in  and  sunk,  by  the  Taxes  Intrest  &  principal 
being  duely  paid,  (as  by  the  Annexed  Scheme)  There- 
fore, that  the  Said  Province  may  Still  be  Supplyd  with 
a  Sufficient  Medium  to  carry  on  the  Trade  of  ye  said 
Province,  I  would  propose  that  the  Sum  of  £24862.  10 
Bills  of  Credit,  at  the  rate  of  14s  pr  ounce  Sterling  Sil- 
ver be  struck  off,  And  that  £12000  of  said  Bills  of 
Credit  be  emeadiatly  Sign'd,  and  lent  upon  good  Land 
Security,  not  more  to  any  one  person  then  £500  or  less 
then  £50  and  at  the  rate  of  5  pr  cent  pr  annum  and  this 
second  Emmission  to  pass  and  Opperate  for  Twelve 
years,  and  no  longer,  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
former. 

5  And  after  the  Expiration  of  the  Twelve  years  for 
which  the  first  Bills  of  Credit  at  28s  pr  ounce  were  em- 
mitted,  If  any  of  ye  Said  Bills  Should  be  then  out- 
standing, the  Bearer  or  Bearers  of  Such  Bills  shall 
have  Six  Months,  and  no  longer,  Allowed  to  bring 
them  into  the  Treasury,  &  have  them  exchanged  for 
half  the  nominal  Sum  of  Bills  of  credit  of  the  Second 
Emmission. 

6.  And  at  the  end  of  the  Same  Twelve  years,  when 
all  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  first  Emmissiou  Shall  be 
9 


114         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

Brought  in  and  Sunk,  and  allso  near  half  of  the  Sec- 
ond Emmission  will  be  Brought  in  and  Sunk,  There- 
fore that  ye  Colony  may  Again  be  Supplyd  with  a 
Currency,  Sufficient  for  The  Trade  Thereof,  I  would 
propose  £12431.  5.  0  Bills  of  Credit,  at  ye  Rate  of  7s 
pr  ounce  Sterling  Silver  Should  be  Struck  off,  and 
£6000,  of  said  Bills  be  emeadiatly  Sign'd  and  lent  up 
on  good  Land  Security  and  this  Third  Emmission  to 
pass  and  opperate  for  Twelve  Years  and  no  longer  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Two  former, 

7  And  thus  the  Currency  will  be  Brought  as  near 
proclamation  Money  as  possible,  And  as  I  conceive  in 
the  easiest  and  Best  manner,  &  by  a  due  Execution 
hereof,  Everything  at  first  proposed  will  be  effected  in 
Eighteen  Years. 

8  And  then  to  prosecute  this  Scheme  further,  even 
for  ever,  a  new  Emmission  of  Bills  of  Credit  at  the 
pate  of  7s  pr  oz  Sterling  Silver  every  Six  years,  To  be 
Brought  in  and  Sunk  in  Twelve  Years,  as  in  the  An- 
nexed Schemes  will  prove  effectual, 

9  And  this  Scheme  may  Serve  any  other  Colony  by 
proportioning  the  Sums  to  the  Taxes  and  Currency  of 
Such  respective  Colony. 

The  Form  of  Such  Bill  of  Credit 
Five  pounds  &c  &c  at  28s  proz  Sterling  Silver  £5.  0.  0. 
This  indented  Bill  of  Five  Pounds  due  to  the  Posses- 
sor Thereof  from  the  Province  of  shall  be  in 
value  equal  to  Silver  of  Sterling  alloy  at  Twenty  eight 
Shillings  pr  ounce,  and  Shall  Accordingly  be  Accepted 
by  the  Treasurer  and  Receivers  under  him,  in  All  pub- 
lick  payments,  from  And  after  the           day  of 
which  will  be  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  1741  to  the 
day  of        which  shall  be  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  1753 
and  no  longer 

By  order  of  } 

)  Commmittee  for  Signing 

N.  B.  There  will  a  saving   or   promt  arise  to  the 


1740]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         115 


Province,  by  these  Schemes,  Sufficient  to  defray  the 
Charge  of  printing  those  Bills  of  Credit  and  the  other 
charge  of  Executing  this  affair, 

By  the  first  Emmission  a  proffit  of £7275  at  28s  p'r  oz  Silver 

By  the  Second  Emmission  D°    of 8862.  10  at  14s  pr  oz. 

By  tho  Third  Emraission    D°     of 1931 .  5s  at   7s  pr  oz 

A  SCHEME  for  an  emission  of  £67,275  Bills  of  credit 
at  the  rate  of  28s  pr  oz  Sterling  Silver  to  be  a  Currency 
for  12  years  and  no  longer,  all  to  be  brought  in  and 
Sunk  in  following  Manner. 

First  3  years  Taxes  at  rOOOl  p'r  annum £9,000    0    0 

First  3  years  intrest  on  £84000  at  5  p'r  Cent 8000   0   0 

First  J$  principal  paid  at  8  years  end 0000   0   0 

If  paid  in  Silver  at  23s  p'r  oz  no  discount  allow'd  —  18,000   0   0 

If  paid  in  Bills  of  credit  2J$  discount  allow'd 4C3    0   0  Sunk  £18,185.  0.  0 

Second  8  years  Taxes  at  8030 1  p'r  Ann'm £9000   0   0 

Second  8  years  intrest  180C01  at  5  p'r  C't 2700   0   0 

Second  !4  principal  paid  at  0  years  end 0000   0   0 

If  paid  in  Silver  at  28s  p'r  oz  no  discount  allow'd 17,700    0   0  17,26710.  0 

If  paid  in  Bills  of  credit  Ufa  discount  allow'd 44810   0 

Third  3  years  Taxes  at  80001  p'r  An'm £9000   0   0 

Third  3  years  Intrcst  on  £1300)  at  5  p'r  C't 1800   0   0 

Third  fcj  principal  paid  at  9  years  end 6000   0   0 

If  paid  in  Silver  at  2fs  p'r  oz  no  discount  allow'd...    1C800    0   0 

If  paid  in  Bills  of  Credit  2&  p'r  Cent  discount 400   0   0  1C880.  0.  0 

Fourth  3  yoara  Taxes  at  8XX)1  p'r  An'm 9000   0   0 

Fourth  3  years  Intrest  on  £COOO  at  5  p'r  C't 000   0   C 

Fourth  14  principal  paid  at  12  years  end 0000   0   0 

If  paid  in  Silver  at  26s  p'r  oz  no  dlsc't  allow'd 15000   0   0 

If  paid  in  Bills  of  credit  2^  p'r  Cent  disc't  allow'd...      897   0   C  15,502.10.0 

£07,275.  0.  0 

A  SECOND  SCHEME  for  an  Emission  of  £24,862.  10. 
Bills  of  credit  at  y°  Rate  of  14s  pr  oz  Sterling  Silver,  to 
be  emitted  Six  years  after  the  former,  and  to  be  a  Curr- 
rency  for  12  years  and  no  longer,  All  to  be  brought  in 
&  Sunk  in  the  following  Manner 

I8t3y-r3lnfston  £120» £1800   0   0 

Igt  J4  principal 8000    0   0 


Discount 


4800   0   0 
120   0   0 


4C80.  0.  0 


116         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

2d  3  y'rs  Int'st  on  £9000 £1350    0    0 

2d  J4  principal 3000    0    0 


4350    0    0 
S^Discount 108    0    0 


£4341.  5.  0 


3d  3  y'rs  Taxes  at  £1500 - £4500    0    0 

3d  3  y'rs  Int'st  on  £6000 900    0    0 

3d  y±  principal 3000    0    0 


8400    0    0 
2^  discount _ 210    0    0 


8190.  0.  0 


C't  Discount 

7751.  5.  0 


4th  3  y'rs  Taxes  £1500 .'. 4500    0    0 

4th  3  y'rs  int'st  on  £3000 460    0    0 

Last  J4  principal 8000    0    0 


£24862.  10.  0 

A  THIRD  SCHEME  for  an  emission  of  £12431.  5.  0 
Bills  of  Credit  at  the  rate  of  Seven  Shillings  pr  ounce 
Sterg  Silver,  to  be  emitted  Twelve  years  after  the  first 
&  Six  years  after  the  Second  And  to  be  a  Currency 
for  12  years  and  no  longer,  All  to  be  brought  in  and 
Sunk  in  the  following  Manner. 

1st  3  y'rs  Intr'st  on  £6000 £900    0    0 

1st  y\  principal 1500    0    0 


2400  0  0 

2J4  p'r  C't  discount 60  0  0 

2d  3  y'rs  int'st  on  £4500 675  0  0 

2d  J4  principal 1500  0  0 

2175  0  0 

2)^  p'r  C't  Discount 54  7  7 


3d  3  y'rs  Taxes  a  £750. 2250  0  0 

3d  3  y'rs  int'st  on  £3000 450  0  0 

3d  14  principal. _ 1500  0  0 

4200  0  0 

2^  p'r  C't  discount 105  0  0 

4th  3  y'rs  Taxes  at  £750 2250  0  0 

4th  3  y'rs  intrest  £1500 225  0  0 

Last  J4  principal 1500  0  0 

3975  0  0 

%  p'r  C't  discount 99  7  6 


2340.  0.  0 


2120.12.  6 


4095.  0.  0 


'5.12.  6 
£12481.   5    0 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  11? 


Proclamation  of  Goif  Morris  relating  to  the  Currency 
of  Foreign  Coins  in  His  Majesty's  Plantations  in 
America.  Dated  3?  Jan1?  1.740-1. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  IV,  F  44.1 

By  His  Excellency. 
LEWIS   MORRIS,   ESQ; 
Captain  General  and  Governor  in  Chief  in  and 
over  His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jersey, 
and  the  Territories  thereon  depending  in 
America,  and  Vice  Admiral  in  the  same, 


A  PROCLAMATION. 

WHEREAS  for  remedying  the  Inconveniences  which 
had  arisen  from  the  different  Rates  at  which  the  same 
Species  of  Foreign  Silver  Coins  had  passed  in  the  sev- 
eral English  Plantations  in  America,  Her  late  most 
Excellent  Majesty  Queen  Anne  thought  fit  by  her 
Royal  Proclamation  bearing  date  the  Eighteenth  day 
of  June  1704.  and  in  the  third  Year  of  Her  Reign  to 
settle  and  ascertain  the  Currency  of  Foreign  Coins  in 
Her  said  Colonies  and  Plantations  in  the  Manners  and 
Words  following,  Viz. 

"WE  having  under  our  Consideration  the  different 
"Rates  at  which  the  same  Species  of  foreign  Coins 
"do  pass  in  our  several  Colonies  and  Plantations  in 
"America,  and  the  Inconveniences  thereof,  by  the 
"indirect  Practice  of  drawing  the  Money  from  one 
"  Plantation  to  another,  to  the  great  Prejudice  of  the 
"  Trade  of  Our  Subjects:  And  being  sensible,  that  the 
"  same  cannot  be  otherwise  Remedied,  than  by  reduc- 
ing of  all  Foreign  Coins  to  the  same  Current  Rate 
"  within  all  Our  Dominions  in  America;  and  the  priu- 


118         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

"cipal  Officers  of  Our  Mint,  having  laid  before  Us  a 
"  Table  of  the  Value  of  the  several  Foreign  Coins, 
"which  usually  pass  in  Payments  in  Our  said  Planta- 
"  tions  according  to  their  Weight,  and  the  Assays 
"  made  of  them  in  Our  Mint,  thereby  shewing  the  just 
"Proportion  which  each  Coin  ought  to  have  to  the 
"  other,  which  is  as  follows,  Viz.  Sevil  Pieces  of  Eight, 
"old  plate,  Seventeen  Penny  Weight  Twelve  Grains, 
"Four  Shillings  and  Six  Pence.  Sevil  pieces  of  Eight, 
"new  Plate,  Fourteen  penny  Weight,  three  Shillings, 
"seven  Pence  one  Farthing.  Mexico  Pieces  of  Eight, 
"Seventeen  penny  Weight  Twelve  Grains,  four  Shil- 
"  lings  and  six  Pence.  Pillar  Pieces  of  Eight,  Seven- 
"  teen  penny  Weight  Twelve  Grains,  four  Shillings 
"  and  six  pence  three  Farthings.  Peru  pieces  of  Eight, 
"old  Plate,  Seventeen  Penny  Weight  Twelve  Grains, 
"  four  Shillings  and  five  Pence,  or  there  abouts.  Cross 
"  Dollars,  Eighteen  Penny  Weight,  four  Shillings,  and 
"  four  pence  three  Farthings,  Ducatoons,  of  Flanders, 
"  Twenty  penny  Weight  and  Twenty  one  Grains,  five 
"  Shillings  and  sixpence.  Ecu's  of  France,  or  Silver 
"  Lewis,  Seventeen  Penny  Weight  Twelve  Grains,  four 
"Shillings  and  Six  pence.  Crusadoes,  of  Portugal, 
"  Eleven  Penny  Weight  four  Grains,  two  Shillings 
"  and  ten  Pence  one  Farthing.  Three  Gilder  Pieces  of 
"Holland,  Twenty  penny  Weight  and  seven  Grains, 
"five  Shillings  and  two  Pence  one  Farthing.  Old  Rix 
"Dollars  of  the  Empire,  Eighteen  Penny  Weight  and 
"  Ten  Grains,  four  Shillings  and  six  pence.  The 
"Halfs,  Quarters,  and  other  parts  in  proportion  to 
"  their  Denominations,  and  light  pieces  in  proportion 
"to  their  Weight:  We  have  therefore  thought  fit  for 
"Remedying  the  said  Inconveniences,  by  the  Advice 
"of  Our  Council,  to  publish  and  declare,  that  from  and 
"  after  the  first  Day  of  January  next  ensuing  the  Date 
"hereof,  no  Sevill,  Pillar,  or  Mexico  Pieces  of  Eight, 
"though  of  the  full  Weight  of  Seventeen  Penny 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  110 

"  Weight  and  an  Half,  shall  be  accounted,  received, 
"taken,  or  paid  within  any  of  Our  said  Colonies  or 
"  Plantations  as  well  those  under  Proprietors  and 
"  Charters,  as  under  our  immediate  Commission  and 
"  Govern rnsnt,  at  above  the  Rate  of  six  Shillings  per 
1 '  Piece  current  Money,  for  the  Discharge  of  any  Con- 
"  tracts  or  Bargains  to  be  made  after  the  said  first  Day 
"of  January  next;  the  Halfs,  Quarters,  and  other  less- 
"er  pieces  of  the  same  Coins,  to  be  accounted,  received, 
"taken  or  paid  in  the  same  Proportion:  And  the  Cur- 
"rency  of  all  Pieces  of  Eight  of  Peru,  Dollars,  and 
"  other  Foreign  Species  of  Silver  Coins,  whether  of  the 
"same  or  Baser  Alloy,  shall,  after  the  said  First  Day 
"of  January  next,  stand  Regulated,  according  to  their 
"Weight,  and  Fineness,  according  and  in  Proportion 
"to  the  Rate  before  limited  and  set  for  the  pieces  of 
"  Eight  of  Sevil,  Pillar,  and  Mexico:  So  that  no  For- 
"eign  Silver  Coin  of  any  sort  be  permitted  to  exceed 
"  the  same  Proportion  upon  any  Account  whatsoever. 
"  And  We  do  hereby  require  and  command  all  Our 
"Governors,  Lieutenant  Governors,  Magistrates,  Offi- 
"  cers  and  all  other  Our  good  Subjects,  within  Our  said 
"  Colonies  and  Plantations,  to  observe  and  obey  Our 
"  Directions  herein,  as  they  tender  Our  Displeasure. 

AND  WHEREAS  an  Act  of  Parliament  was  afterwards 
passed  in  the  Gth  Year  of  Her  said  late  Majesty  Queen 
Anne,  entitled,  An  Act  for  the  Ascertaining  the  Rates 
of  Foreign  Coins  in  Her  Majesty's  Plantations  in 
America,  setting  forth,  that  notwithstanding  the  spid 
Proclamation,  the  same  indirect  Practices  therein  men- 
tioned were  still  carried  on  within  some  of  the  said 
Colonies  and  Plantations,  and  the  Money  thereby 
drawn  from  one  Plantation  to  another,  in  prejudice  of 
the  Trade  of  Her  Majesty's  Subjects.  Wherefore  for 
the  better  inforcing  the  due  Execution  of  Her  Majesty's 
said  Proclamation,  throughout  all  the  said  Colonies 
and  Plantations,  and  for  the  more  effectual  Remedy- 


120          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

ing  the  said  Inconveniences  thereby  intended  to  be 
Remedyed,  it  was  therein  and  thereby  Enacted,  That 
if  any  Person  within  any  of  the  said  Colonies  or  Plan- 
tations, as  well  under  Proprietors  and  Charters,  as 
under  Her  Majesty's  immediate  Commission  and  Gov- 
ernment, should  after  the  First  Day  of  May  in  the 
Year  of  our  Lord  1709.  for  the  Discharge  of  any  Con- 
tracts or  Bargains  to  be  thereafter  made,  account, 
receive,  take,  or  pay  any  of  the  Silver  Species  of 
Foreign  Silver  Coins  mentioned  in  the  before  recited 
Proclamation  of  any  greater  or  higher  Bate  than  at 
which  the  same  is  thereby  regulated,  settled,  and  al- 
lowed to  be  accounted,  received,  taken  or  paid,  every 
such  Person  so  accounting,  receiving,  taking  or  paying 
the  same  contrary  to  the  Directions  therein  contained, 
should  suffer  six  Months  Imprisonment  without  Bail 
or  Main  Prize.  Any  Law,  Custom  or  Usage,  in  any 
of  the  said  Colonies  or  Plantations  to  the  Contrary 
thereof  in  any  wise  not  withstanding,  and  should  like- 
wise forfeit  the  Sum  of  Ten  pounds  for  every  such 
Offence,  one  Moiety  thereof  to  Her  said  Majesty,  Her 
Heirs  and  Successors,  the  other  Moiety  to  such  Person 
or  Persons  as  should  Sue  for  the  same,  to  be  recovered, 
with  full  Costs  of  Suit,  by  Action  of  Debt,  Bill,  Plaint 
or  Information,  in  any  of  Her  said  Majesty's  Courts  of 
Justice  within  any  of  the  said  Plantations,  or  in  any 
of  the  Courts  of  Justice  of  the  Charter  or  Proprietary 
Governments  where  such  Offence  should  be  committed: 
AND  WHEREAS  their  Excellencies  the  Lord  Justices, 
by  their  additional  Instruction  to  me  directed,  bearing- 
date  at  Whitehall  the  Fifth  Day  of  August  in  this  pres- 
ent Year  1740.  Have  therein  set  forth,  that  although 
the  respective  Governors  of  all  the  Plantations  in 
America,  had  from  Time  to  Time,  been  Instructed  to 
observe  and  carry  on  the  above  recited  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment into  due  Execution:  Yet  that  notwithstanding 
the  same.  Complaints  had  been  made,  that  the  said 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  121 

Act  had  not  been  observed  as  it  ought  to  have  been  in 
many  of  His  Majestv's  Colonies  and  Plantations  in 
America,  by  Means  whereof,  many  indirect  Practices 
had  grown  up,  and  various  and  illegal  Currencies  had 
been  introduced  in  several  of  the  said  Colonies  and 
Plantations,  contrary  to  the  true  Intent  and  Meaning 
of  the  said  Act,  and  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Trade  of 
His  Majesty's  Subjects:  And  that  in  Consequence  of 
those  Complaints,  an  humble  address  had  been  pre- 
sented the  then  last  Sessions  by  the  House  of  Com- 
mons to  His  Majesty,  that  He  would  be  graciously 
pleased  to  require  and  command  the  respective  Gover- 
nors of  His  Colonies  and  Plantation  in  America,  effect- 
ually to  observe  His  Majesty's  Royal  Instructions, 
directing  them  that  the  said  Act  of  the  sixth  Year  of 
the  Reign  of  Her  late  Majesty  Queen  Anne,  Entitled, 
An  Act  for  Ascertaining  the  Rates  of  Foreign  Coins  in 
Her  Majesty's  Plantations  in  America,  should  be  punct- 
ually and  bona  fide  observed  and  put  in  Execution, 
according  to  the  true  Intent  and  Meaning  of  the  said 
Act:  Pursuant  to  which  Address,  their  Excellencies 
the  Lord  Justices  by  their  additional  Instruction  (signi- 
fying it  to  be  His  Majesty's  Royal  Will  aud  Pleasure) 
do  strictly  charge  and  command  Me,  to  take  the  most 
effectual  Care  for  the  future,  that  the  said  Act  be 
punctually  and  bona  fide  observed  and  put  in  Execu- 
tion, according  to  the  true  Intent  and  Meaning  thereof. 
In  Obedience  therefore  to  the  said  additional  Instruc- 
tion from  the  Lords  Justices,  and  to  the  End  that  His 
Majesty's  Commands  therein  may  be  fully  made  known 
to  all  His  Subjects  within  this  my  Government,  and 
that  none  of  them  may  pretend  Ignorance  thereof,  I 
Do  (by  and  with  the  Advice  of  His  Majesty's  Councill) 
issue  this  Proclamation,  and  in  His  Majesty's  Name  do 
hereby  strictly  Reqiure  and  Command  all  and  every 
His  Majesty's  good  Subjects  within  this  Province,  to 
pay  a  strict  and  punctual  Obedience  to  the  above  recited 


122          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

Act  pass'd  ill  the  sixth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  Her  said 
late  Majesty  Queen  Anne,  entitled,  An  Act  for  Ascer- 
taining the  Rates  of  Foreign  Coins  in  Her  Majesty's 
Plantations  in  America,  under  the  Penalty's  in  the 
said  Act  mentioned,  which  shall  be  according  to  the 
utmost  of  my  Power,  strictly  and  punctually  put  in 
Execution  against  all  and  every  Person  and  Persons 
that  shall  presume  to  offend  in  acting  contrary  to  the 
Directions  in  the  said  Act. 

Given  under  rny  Hand  and  Seal  at  Arms,  at  Trenton 
in  Council,  the  third  Day  of  January,  in  the  Four- 
teenth Year  of  His  Majesty's  Reign  Annoque  Domini 
One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Forty. 

By  His  Excellency's  Command,  LEWIS  MORRIS. 
Arch.  Home,  Secry. 

GOD  SAVE  THE  KING. 


Report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons— relative  to  Bills  of  Credit  in  the  Plantations. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General  No.  30,  Ent.  Book  Q,  p.  269.] 

To  the  Honbl°  the  Commons  of  Great  Britain, 
in  Parliament  Assembled. 

His  Majesty  having  been  pleased  by  his  Order  of  the 
30th  of  April  last,  pursuant  to  an  Address  of  this  Honblc 
House  of  the  25th  of  the  same  Month,  to  direct  the 
Commissioners  for  Trade  &  Plantations,  to  prepare  in 
order  to  be  laid  before  this  House  the  next  Session  of 
Parliament,  "An  Account  of  the  Tenour  &  Amount  of 
"  the  Bills  of  Credit  which  have  been  created  &  issued 
"in  the  several  British  Colonies  and  Plantations  in 
"America,  as  well  as  those  under  Proprietors  & 
"Charters  as  under  his  Majesty's  immediate  Com- 
"mision  &  Government,  that  shall  be  then  out- 


1741]    ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          123 

"  standing  distinguishing  the  Amount  of  the  same 
"in  each  Colony  or  Plantation,  and  the  respec- 
tive Times  when  such  Bills  so  outstanding  were 
"issued,  with  the  Amount  of  the  said  Bills  in  money 
"of  Great  Britain,  both  at  the  time  of  preparing  the 
"said  Account,  together  with  their  Opinion  what  will 
"b3  the  most  easy  &  effectual  manner  of  sinking  and 
"discharging  all  such  Bills  of  Credit  with  the  least 
"Prejudice  to  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Colonies 
"and  Plantations,  and  Interruption  of  the  Commerce 
"of  this  Kingdom." 

Upon  Receipt  of  the  said  Order,  We  did  immediate- 
ly send  circular  Letters  to  all  theGov?  of  his  Majesty's 
Plantations  in  America,  reciting  the  said  Address,  and 
directing  them  forthwith  to  prepare  and  transmit  to 
Us,  the  sev!  Accounts  therein  required,  together  with 
their  Opinion,  what  would  be  the  most  easy  and  effec- 
tual manner  of  sinking  and  discharging  all  such  Bills 
of  Credit,  as  by  a  Copy  of  one  of  the  said  dated  May 
circular  Letters  hereunto  annexed  may 
more  fully  appear;  But  We  have  not  hitherto  re- 
ceived Returns  from  any  of  his  Majesty's  Gover- 
nors on  the  said  Subjects,  except  only  from  the 
Lieutenant  Governor  of  New  York. 

We  did  likewise  at  the  same  time  recommend  to  the 
Agents  of  the  respective  Colonies  residing  here,  to  lay 
before  Us  their  Opinions  concerning  the  most  easy  & 
effectual  manner  of  sinking  the  said  Bills,  &  frequently 
discoursed  with  them  thereupon;  but  they  have  for  the 
most  Part  excused  themselves;  from  giving  any  Opin- 
ion till  they  shall  have  received  proper  Instructions 
from  their  Principals  on  that  Subject. 

Under  these  Difficulties  therefore,  and  destitute  of 
propar  Information,  it  cannot  be  expected  that  We 
should  be  able  to  lay  before  this  Honb!c  House  such  a 
Proposition  for  the  sinking  and  discharging  of  the  said 
Bills  of  Credit,  as  may  be  in  every  respect  an  adequate 


124          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1741 

Remedy  for  the  Evil  complained  of,  and  so  much  the 
rather  because  the  Circumstances  of  the  sev1  Provinces 
being  various  &  very  different  in  this  Respect,  each 
Province  may  require  a  distinct  Consideration. 

Being  however  desirous,  as  far  as  in  Us  lies,  to  com- 
ply with  the  Intentions  of  the  House,  We  would  humbly 
propose  that  his  Majesty  may  be  graciously  pleased  to 
repeat  his  Orders  to  his  Governors  of  the  Plantations 
not  to  give  their  Assent  for  the  future  to  any  Bill  or 
Bills  for  the  issuing  or  re-issuing  of  Paper  money  in 
their  respective  Governments  of  any  Sort  upon  any 
Account,  or  for  any  Purpose  whatsoever,  without  a 
Clause  therein  inserted  to  suspend  the  Execution 
thereof,  till  his  Majesty's  Pleasure  thereupon  shall  be 
known,  nor  to  any  Vote,  Resolution  or  Order  for  the  is- 
suing or  re-issuing  of  any  Sort  of  Paper  money  upon 
Pain  of  the  Forfeiture  of  their  repective  Employments, 
of  his  Majesty's  highest  Displeasure. 

That  the  said  Governors  be  also  directed  under  the 
same  Penalties  to  take  due  Care  that  all  Funds  and 
Provisions  already  established  by  Acts  of  Assembly 
for  the  gradual  sinking  and  discharging  of  Bills  of 
Credit  in  their  respective  Provinces  be  duly  applied, 
according  to  the  Terms  &  Methods  prescribed  in  the 
said  Acts  for  those  Purposes. 

That  wherever  Bills  of  Credit  have  been  issued  upon 
Loan  to  private  Persons,  upon  Securities  real  or  per 
sonal  in  Consequence  of  any  Acts  of  Assembly,  such 
Persons  be  compelled  to  make  Payment  thereof,  agree- 
able to  the  Securities  given  for  that  Purpose. 

That  in  all  Cases  where  Bills  of  Credit  have  been 
issued  without  proper  Funds  for  the  sinking  of  them, 
or  where  such  Funds  have  been  diverted  or  proved  in- 
effectual, the  Governors  should  be  directed  to  recom- 
mend in  his  Majesty's  Name  to  their  Assemblies  forth- 
with to  provide  sufficient  Funds  by  Act  of  Assemblies 
for  the  gradual  Discharge  of  such  Bills. 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          125 

We  hope  that  these  Propositions  for  reducing  <fe  dis- 
charging the  Paper  Currency  in  the  Plantations  may 
have  a  good  Effect  in  those  Governments  which  are  held 
by  immediate  Commission  under  his  Majesty,  But  We 
are  very  doubtful!  whether  they  will  produce  the  like 
Effect  in  the  Charter  Governments,  who  do  apprehend 
themselves  by  their  particular  Charters,  &  Constitu- 
tions to  be  very  little  dependent  upon  the  Crown,  & 
for  that  Reason  seldom  pay  that  Obedience  to  his 
Maj'f*  Orders  which  might  reasonably  be  expected 
from  them. 

We  have  hereunto  annexed  such  Returns  of  the 
State  of  the  Paper  Currency  in  the  Colonies  as  have 
come  to  Our  Hands  since  our  last  Report,  &  which  did 
not  arrive  in  time  to  be  laid  before  the  House  the  last 
Session  of  Parliament,  We  have  likewise,  in  Obedience 
to  his  Maj'f8  Orders  upon  another  Address  from  this 
House  of  the  25th  of  Apr1  last,  prepared  Copies  of  the 
sev!  Grants  &  Charters  from  ye  Crown  to  the  Propri- 
etary &  Charter  Governm'.8  on  the  Continent  of  N° 
America,  now  subsisting  &  in  Force.  &  do  herewl.h  lay 
the  same  before  this  Honb!e  House. 

All  which  is  humbly  submitted 
MONSON 

Whitehall  Jan'ry          JA  BRUDEXELL      R  PLUMER 
21*  1740-1  R :  HERBERT.       M  BLADEN 

List  of  Papers  transmitted  to  the  Commissioners  for 
Trade  &  Plantations  relating  to  Paper  Currency  &c. 
in  America  received  since  the  last  Session  of  Parliament. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  Major  Gooch  Lieu?  Gover- 
nor of  Virginia,  dated  Febry  !)'."  17SJ»-4o— relating  to 
Paper  Currency  &c. 


-' 


Account  of  the  State  of   Paper  Currency  of  North 


126         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

Carolina,  from  the  first  Emission  of  any  Bills  of  Credit  to 
the  year  1740,  rece'd  from  N.  Carolina. 


Letter  from  Sam!  Ogle  Esqr  Dep'.y  GovF  of  Maryland, 
dated  20th  April  1740 —  relating  to  Paper  Currency  &c. 

4 

Letter  from  Joseph  Talcot  Esqr  Deput}r  GovT  of  Con- 
necticut, dated  Jan'ry  12th  1739-40— relating  to  Paper 
Currency. 

5 

Account  of  the  Gold  &  Silver  Coin  as  it  currently 
Passed  in  the  Island  of  Nevis  from  the  year  1700  to 
1739-40  transmitted  by  Governor  Mathew. 

List  of  Copies  of  Charters  from  the  Commies™  for 
Trade  &  Plantations,  presented  to  the  Honb1:c  the  House 
of  Commons,  in  Pursuance  of  their  Address  to  his 
Majesty  of  the  25?  April  1740. 

Maryland  Charter,  granted  by  King  Charles  the  1st 
in  the  8th  Year  of  his  Reign. 

Connecticut  Charter  granted  by  K.  Charles  the  sec- 
ond, in  the  14th  Year  of  his  Reign. 

Rhode  Island  Charter,  granted  by  King  Charles  the 
second  in  the  15th  Year  of  his  Reign. 

Pennsylvania  Charter,  granted  by  King  Charles  the 
2"  in  the  33d  Year  of  his  Reign. 

Massachusets  Bay  Charter  granted  by  K.  Will™  & 
Q.  Mary  in  the  3"  Year  of  their  Reign. 

Georgia  Charter  granted  by  His  present  Majesty  in 
the  5th  Year  of  His  Reign. 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          12? 


Archibald  Home  appointed  one  of  the  New  Jersey 

Council. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jprsey,  Vol.  IV,  F  42.  | 

Order  in  Council,  dated  the  23?  of  April  1741, 
approving  a  Representation  of  this  Board 
proposing  Archibald  Home  Esqr  to  Supply 
a  Vacancy  in  the  Council  of  New  Jersey 
by  the  Death  of  Robert  Lattice  Hooper  Esqr. 

AT  THE  COURT  AT  S?  JAMES'S 
the  23d  Day  of  April  1741 

Present 
The  Kings  most  Excellent  Majesty  in  Council 

Upon  reading  at  the  Board  a  Report  from  the  Right 
Honourable  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  for 
Plantation  Affairs  dated  the  Otn  of  this  Instant  in  the 
Words  following — Viz1 

"Your  Majesty  having  been  pleased  by  Your  Order 
"in  Council  of  the  19l"  of  last  month,  to  referr  unto 
"this  Committee  a  Representation  from  the  Lords 
"Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations,  Setting 
"  forth,  that  there  is  a  Vacancy  in  your  Majestys 
"  Council  of  New  Jersey,  Occasioned  by  the  Death  of 
"  Robert  Lettice  Hooper  Esq'  And  that  Archibald 
"  Home  Esqr  having  been  recommended  to  them  as  a 
"Person  every  way  Qualified  to  Serve  Your  Majesty 
"  in  that  Station,  They  therefore  humbly  propose,  that 
"he  may  be  appointed  to  Supply  the  said  Vacancy. 
"  The  Lords  of  the  Committee  this  day  took  the  said 
"Representation  into  their  Consideration  And  do 
"thereupon  Agree  humbly  to  Report,  that  they  have 


128          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

"  no  Objection  to  Your  Majestys  Appointing  the  said 
"  Archibald  Home  to  be  of  Your  Majestys  said  Coun- 
"cil  in  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  in  the  room  of 
"  the  said  Lettice  Hooper  deceased— 

His  Majesty  this  day  took  the  said  Report  into  Con- 
sideration and  was  Pleased  with  the  Advice  of  His 
Privy  Council  to  Approve  thereof  and  to  Order  as  it  is 
hereby  Ordered,  that  the  said  Archibald  Home  Esq?  be 
Constituted  and  Appointed'  a  Member  of  His  Majestys 
said  Council  of  New  Jersey  in  the  room  of  the  said 
Robert  Lettice  Hooper. '  And  His  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle  His  Majestys  Principal  Secretary  of  State  is 
to  Cause  the  usual  Warrant  to  be  prepared  for  His 
Majestys  Royal  Signature — 

A  true  Copy 

TEMPLE  STANYAN 


Communication  from  the  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  Lords 
Justices — relative  to  Ensigns  to  be  borne  by  ships 
having  private  commissions. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  Plantations  General  No.  36,  Ent.  Book  G,  p.  279.J 

To  their  Excellencies  the  Lords  Justices. 
May  it  please  your  Excellencies, 

In  our  Representation  to  your  Excellencies  of  the 
218t  and  22?  of  July  last,  which  accompanied  the 
Instructions  We  had  prepared  for  His  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernors of  the  Massachusets  Bay  and  New  Hampshire, 
We  took  Leave  to  propose  an  Alteration  to  be  made  in 
the  Colours  to  be  worn  by  all  Ships  having  private 
Commissions  or  carrying  Letters  of  Marque  or  Reprisal, 


1  Mr.  Home  died  in  1745  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew  Johnston  on  June  19th, 
1745. 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          129 

to  make  the  same  conformable  to  those  given  by  His 
Majestys  Commissioners  for  executing  the  Office  of 
High  Admiral  of  Great  Britain  to  the  Commanders  of 
Vessels  having  Letters  of  Marque  or  Commissions  for 
Private  Men  of  War;  And  your  Excellencies  having 
been  pleased  to  refer  the  said  Representation  and 
Instructions  to  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  His 
Majesty's  most  Honb!e  Privy  Council,  Their  Lordships 
upon  Perusal  thereof,  did  by  their  Order  dated  the  7V1 
instant,  direct  us  to  consider  whether  Draughts  of 
Additional  Instructions  relating  to  the  said  Ensigns 
should  be  sent  to  such  Govei'nors  as  have  not  been 
already  instructed  upon  this  head,  &  We  apprehend- 
ing the  same  may  be  for  His  Majesty's  Service,  have 
prepared  the  inclosed  Draughts  of  Additional  Instruc- 
tions for  that  purpose,  which  are  most  humbly  sub- 
mitted to  Your  Excellencies. 

M  BLADEX. 

B:  KEENE 
R:  PLUMEK 
JA:  BRUDENEL 

[The  instructions  were  to  the  following  effect.] 

"That  is  to  say,  Such  as  is  worn  by  our  Ships  of 
"War,  with  the  Distinction  of  a  white  Escutcheon  in 
"  the  middle  thereof;  And  that  the  said  Mark  of  Dis- 
"  tinction  may  extend  itself  to  one  half  of  the  Depth 
"  of  the  Jack,  and  to  one  third  of  the  Fly  thereof."  It 
is  His  Majestys  Will  &  Pleasure,  And  You  are 
hereby  required  for  the  future  to  oblige  all  Com- 
manders of  Ships  to  whom  You  shall  grant  such  Com- 
missions to  wear  the  same  Ensign  as  Merchant  Ships 
&  a  red  Jack  with  the  Union  Jack  in  a  Canton  at  the 
upper  Corner  next  the  Staff,  instead  of  those  raen- 
tion'd  in  former  Instructions. 


10 


130          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 


Letter  from  Governor  Lewis  Morris  to  the  Lords  of 
Trade — about  New  Jersey  affairs. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  IV,  F  43.) 

Trenton,  August  I&*  1741 
My  Lords, 

I  have  received  the  Honour  of  your  Lordships  of 
May  .20l.h  and  218t  and  August  I8-1  1740,  and  one  of 
Aprill  171'1  1741  with  two  Acts  of  Parliament  Pursuant 
to  your  Lordships  commands  of  the  I8t  of  August  1740. 
I  gave  the  Commissioners  residing  in  this  Province  the 
Information  by  your  Lordships  directed,  but  I  am  told 
none  of  them  attended  and  that  the  Settling  the 
bounds  j  between  Boston  and  Rhode  Island  (if  done) 
was  done  without  their  Assistance. 

In  Obedience  to  your  Lordships  of  May  218t  1740  I 
have  directed  the  Secretary  of  this  Province  (who 
farmes  the  Office  of  one  Burnet  in  England  who  has 
the  Patent  for  it)  to  Search  the  Office  and  give  mean 
Account  of  what  Laws  have  been  pass'd  but  the  Offices 
being  kept  in  two  places  Viz1.  Amboy  and  Burlington 
and  not  Being  Formerly  kept  so  carefully  as  they 
should,  a  collection  Even  of  their  titles  will  be  not 
Easie  to  make,  and  much  more  so  to  get  them  tran- 
scribed, the  transcribing  the  minutes  of  the  Council 
and  Acts  of  Assembly  Each  Session  and  duplicates  of 
them  which  is  twice  done  by  the  Secretary  and  is  a 
burden  upon  the  Officer  which  the  Assembly  has  given 
but  a  Scanty  allowance  for  doing,  and  such  as  is  very 
far  short  of  paying  for  the  Service  done. 

During  the  Sitting  of  the  Assembly  at  Burlington  I 
discovered  an  Old  chest  full  of  papers  belonging  to  that 
Office  and  among  them  many  of  the  Original  Laws 
put  in  a  Garret  of  a  House  that  I  had  hired  where  I 
lodg'd  my  Servants,  &  it  was  a  great  chance  that  many 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          131 

of  them  were  not  us'd  for  waste  paper,  they  might 
have  been  as  carelessly  kept  at  Amboy  for  Ought  I 
know,  there  having  been  no  publick  provision  made 
for  a  place  to  keep  them  in,  Either  there  or  Elsewhere. 
There  having  been  Coppies  of  all  the  Laws  made  here 
from  time  to  time  as  they  were  made  transmitted  to 
the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  time  being,  and  Dupli- 
cates of  them  to  the  board  of  trade,  Each  of  those 
Offices  are  probably  furnished  with  a  compleat  collec- 
tion of  them  to  lay  before  the  house  of  commons  if 
they  desire  it;  however  I  will  do  what  I  can  for  Your 
Lordships  Information  on  that  head. 

Your  Lordships  of  the  20l.h  of  May  1740,  requiring 
an  Account  of  the  tenor  and  Amount  of  the  Bills  of 
Credit  current  in  New  Jersie,  with  my  Opinion  what 
would  be  the  most  ready  way  to  Sink  and  destroy 
them  with  the  least  Prejudice  to  the  inhabitants,.  I 
laid  before  the  Council,  as  I  did  your  Lordships  of  the 
5l.h  of  July  1739,  with  Coppyes  of  Addresses  Ordered 
by  the  Lords  and  Commons  to  be  made  to  His  Majestic 
much  to  the  same  Purpose.  I  sent  your  Lordships  the 
Report  of  the  Council  in  answer  to  that  of  the  51!1  of 
July  which  I  hope  came  to  your  Lordships  hands;  but, 
least  that  should  have  Miscarryed  I  send  your  Lord- 
ships another  transcript  of  the  minutes  of  Council 
then  sent.  I  also  send  the  minutes  of  Council  com- 
mencing the  IV  of  December  1740.  &  ending  the  2?  of 
May  1741.  Among  those  last  mentioned  minutes 
there  is  one  of  January  I"1  1740,  with  relation  to  your 
Lordships  letter  of  the  20th  of  May  1740.  the  1"  part  of 
which  they  conceive  was  fully  and  compleatly 
answred  by  their  report  of  the  4l."  of  December  1739, 
and  gives  an  Account  of  all  the  Bills  that  have  been 
and  now  are  Current  in  this  Province  Except  £2000. 
in  bills  of  Credit  made  current  Since  for  Vicualling 
and  transporting  the  troops  rais'd  in  this  Colony  sent 
against  the  Spaniards.  This  Report  of  the  4!.h  of 


]32          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

December  is  in  the  two  last  leaves  of  the  former 
minutes  &  with  respect  to  the  Sinking  of  them,  they 
think  the  best  and  most  Effectual  way  to  do  this 
would  be  to  do  it  in  the  manner  Prescrib'd  by  the  Acts 
that  gave  them  a  currency.  I  propos'd  Several  ques- 
tions to  them  as  your  Lordships  will  see  by  the  minutes 
of  the  2?  of  January  which  they  took  time  to  Answer 
&  on  the  4:^  of  Aprill  following  rather  Evaded  as  I 
think  than  Answer'd  directly — They  would  not  allow 
that  there  was  any  alteration  in  Our  currency  but  the 
bills  of  Exchange  had  got  to  a  higher  rate  than  they 
had  been,  and  that  the  exportation  being  Encreas'd 
the  course  of  Exchange  had  fallen  to  50  P  Cent,  and 
that  the  Increase  of  the  exportation  was  the  chief 
cause  thereof. 

That  there  was  no  alteration  in  Our  currency  I  take 
to.  be  a  mistake,  it  is  true  that  there  was  no  nominal 
Alteration,  a  bill  mark'd  20  Shillings  pass'd  for  20 
Shillings  and  was  called  20  Shillings  and  would  have 
done  So,  if  Exchange  had  risen  to  500  P  Cent  as  well 
as  to  TO  P  Cent,  but  the  owner  of  the  bill  could  not 
have  purchas'd  so  much  Silver  and  Gold  for  his  20 
Shillings  nor  so  much  English  cloth  or  what  Elce  of 
that  Kind  he  wanted  as  when  Silver  pass'd  at  6?  10£l  P 
Ounce,  which  was  the  nominal  Vallue  his  bill  was 
Struck  at,  And  unless  Silver  &  Gold  had  risen  in  its 
Vallue  Exchange  could  not  has  [have?]  risen;  And  the 
reason  of  its  rising  I  do  not  take  to  be  Owing  to  a  paper 
Currency  but  to  the  want  of  a  proper  return,  and  for 
that  reason  owing  to  the  British  factors  themselves  for 
they  having  sold  their  goods  and  receiv'd  pay  in  the 
paper  Currency,  and  being  under  a  necessity  of  making- 
returns  to  their  Employers,  they  by  from  time  to  time 
offering  great  prices  for  Silver,  Gold  or  bills  of  Ex- 
change have  rais'd  the  Value  of  them  &  those  that 
have  Silver  Gold  or  bills  of  Exchange,  Knowing  the 
necessity  these  factors  are  under  to  make  returns,  will 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          133 

not  part  with  them  but  at  their  own  rate,  &  this  or 
some  thing  like  it  would  be  the  case  where  direct 
returns  are  wanting  where  there  no  Paper  Currency; 
for,  the  mercantile  part  of  men  in  these  parts  are  of 
Opinion  (&  I  believe  our  Council  thought  the  same 
way)  that  foreign  Coynes  of  Gold  and  Silver  are  of  the 
nature  of  piggs  or  ingots  of  Silver  and  Gold,  A  Mer- 
chandise, whose  Value  like  other  Commodities  may 
rise  or  fall  in  proportion  to  the  Demand  there  is  for 
them;  and  on  this  notion  it  has  been  by  Agreement 
among  these  sort  of  people  that  Pistoles  and  Silver 
have  been  rais'd  in  their  Value  from  time  to  time  and 
of  different  Values  in  different  Provinces  according  to 
the  necessity  there  was  of  making  returns,  or  the 
natural  foundation  of  credit  there  was  for  the  bills  of 
Credit  Emitted,  or  both,  and  consequently  English 
Gold  and  Silver  must  have  rais'd  also  and  have  been 
Current  in  payments  at  Various  nominal  Values  in 
Various  Collonyes  &  this  I  take  to  be  the  Various  cur- 
rencies meant.  These  nominall  Values  of  the  coin 
whatever  they  were,  would  purchase  no  more  than  the 
Same  nominall  Vallue  of  the  paper  currency  would  do: 
As  if  a  Guinea  went  at  5  pound  (which  I  think  it  did 
in  New  England)  it  would  purchase  Just  as  much  as  a 
New  England  paper  bill  of  five  pounds  would  do,  so 
that  (according  to  our  Councill)  there  would  be  no 
alteration  of  the  currency  5  pounds  being  still  5  pounds 
but  it  seems  plain  to  me  that  if  a  Guinea  was  at  any 
time  before  that  current  at  30  Shillings  in  bills  of 
Credit,  that  when  it  was  current  at  5  pounds  in  the 
same  bills  it  required  5  pounds  to  purchase  that  Guinea 
which  30  Shillings  of  the  currency  or  bills  would  have 
done  before;  which  must  make  those  bills  (whatever 
nominal  Vallue  was  Impress'd  upon  them)  of  so  much 
less  real  Value  than  they  were  before. 

The  falling  of  Exchange  from  70.  to  50.  and  after 
that  so  Low  as  even  to  25  P  Cent  in  2  or  3  Months 


134          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

time  and  its  rise  again  to  40  and  rising  Seems  to  be  so 
Sudden  to  be  Owing  to  the  increase  of  the  Exports  as 
our  Council  Say,  or  the  Contrary;  and  is  said  to  be 
chargeable  to  Another  Account  Viz'  the  want  of  Specie 
and  of  a  sufficient  quantity  of  currency  to  Supply  the 
Ordinary  necessities  of  Jersie  and  Pensilvania  at  that 
time;  for  much  provision  being  to  be  Shipp'd  for  the 
Troops  and  Else  where  in- the  West  Indies,  bills  of 
Exchange  would  not  purchase  this,  unless  chang'd  into 
Specie,  or  bills  of  Credit;  both  of  which  being  Scarce, 
there  was  a  necessity  of  Lo wring  bills  in  Order  to 
procure  it,  and  when  that  End  was  Answer'd  they 
soon  rose  again,  So  that  the  fall  of  Exchange  was  not 
Owing  to  a  general  Increase  of  the  Exports,  that  being 
(if  I  Judge  rightly)  little  (if  any  thing)  more  this  year 
than  usual;  but  to  the  time  of  doing  of  it,  and  peculiar 
Circumstances  attending  that  Occasion  which  may  not 
in  a  course  of  Years  happen  again. 

As  to  the  best  way  of  sinking  the  Bills,  (or  whether 
it  be  best  to  sink  them  at  all)  is  difficult  to  determine. 
Those  of  the  Council  that  gave  me  their  Opinion  on 
that  head  Agree  that  its  best  to  let  them  Expire  by 
your  Own  limitation:  but,  when  thats  done,  or  if  sunk 
sooner,  unless  there  be  a  Supply  of  Specie  or  some- 
thing that  is  tantamount,  the  reasons  &  necessity  for 
making  Others  of  some  kind  or  other  to  serve  as  A 
medium  of  trade  in  lieu  of  Specie  will  be  as  Cogent 
and  pressing  as  they  were  for  the  making  those  now 
in  use;  and  if  those  reasons  were  good  it  Seems  not 
Amiss  to  continue  the  practice  while  those  reasons 
Subsist. 

It  has  been  said  that  while  Jamaica  and  some  of  the 
other  Islands  carry ed  on  a  Clandestine-  trade  with  the 
Spaniards  &  the  West  Indies  the  northern  Plantations 
had  Specie  Enough  for  their  own  Currencie  and  to 
make  such  remittances  as  was  Sufficient  to  Supply 
their  wants;  but  that  trade  failing  and  with  it  the 


1741]    ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          135 

Supply  of  Silver  &  Gold  and  their  numbers  and 
demands  Increasing,  they  were  under  a  necessity  of 
having  recourse  to  the  Issuing  bills  of  Credit  <o  Supply 
the  Defect  of  Specie,  to  serve  as  that  did  for  a  medium 
of  Commerce;  but  remittances  being  necessary  and  not 
to  be  made  in  those  Bills,  those  who  had  bills  of 
Exchange  or  Silver  made  their  Advantage  of  those 
who  wanted  &  being  to  be  paid  in  those  bills  of  credit 
would  not  part  with  their  bills  of  Exchange  or  Silver 
but  on  their  own  terms  and  this  Depreciated  the  nomi- 
nall  Value  of  the  Bills  of  Credit  in  most  of  the  Colo- 
nies, in  some  more  than  in  others  in  Proportion  to  the 
natural  Credit  upon  which  those  bills  were  founded 
but  fluctuating  and  Subject  to  change  in  all  of  them 

The  Province  of  New  Jersie  sends  but  few  Vessels 
abroad;  what  they  raise  is  chiefly  sent  from  the  East- 
ern division  of  it  to  New- York  and  from  the  Western 
to  Philadelphia  from  which  places  they  are  for  the 
most  part  supply'd  with  what  European  Commodities 
they  want;  they  importing  but  little  of  that  kind 
themselves;  so  that  they  are  Very  much  out  of  the 
case  with  respect  to  the  Value  of  Silver  or  Gold;  what 
little  they  have  (if  any)  comes  from  York  or  Pensilva- 
nia  but  chiefly  from  the  Last  to  purchase  Wheat  for 
their  own  Exportation  and  then  passes  at  the  Value  it 
goes  in  Pensilvania  with  those  who  take  it  which  are 
not  many;  the  generality  preferring  the  bills  of  credit 
current  Amongst  them  whose  Value  they  know  to 
Silver  or  Gold  which  they  do  not;  and  few  of  them 
having  need  of  remittances  are  not  concern'd  whether 
bills  of  Exchange  be  cheap  or  deare  which  may  be  one 
reason  that  the  bills  or  what  they  call  the  Paper  Money 
of  this  Province  have  not  only  retain'd  but  Encreas'd 
their  Credit  being  now  12£  P  Cent  better  than  those  of 
the  neighbouring  Province  of  New  York. 

Silver  and  Gold  being  the  medium  of  commerce  in 
every  country  where  a  Sufficient  quantity  of  it  for  that 
Purpose  is  to  be  had,  it  seems  necessary  that  in  coun- 


136          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

tries  where  it  is  not  to  be  had  that  Something  Elce 
should  be  Substituted  in  its  stead  to  Answer  as  far  as 
may  be  that  purpose;  this  the  northern  Plantations 
have  done  by  bills  of  Credit  which  in  some  of  them 
have  prov'd  a  great  conveniency  to  the  Inhabitants 
Especially  to  those  in  this  Province;  and  to  destroy 
these  altogether  in  places  where  they  have  retain'd 
their  Credit  without  placing  Something  in  their  Stead 
that  would  Answer  the  Same  Ends  Seems  to  be  very 
inconvenient  for  the  Inhabitants  and  perhaps  not 
beneficial  to  the  trade  of  their  mother  country. 

In  things  of  this  Kind  there  will  not  be  wanting 
Various  Projections  and  when  duly  considred  Perhaps 
few  (if  any)  of  them  practicable  with  less  inconven- 
ience than  the  methods  now  in  use.  Some  have  con- 
ceiv'd  that  the  calling  in  all  the  Bills  that  are  now  in 
use  and  issuing  others  in  their  Stead  upon  the  Same 
Security  and  lent  in  the  same  manner  with  this  only 
difference  of  making  the  King  the  Lender  instead  of 
the  Governments  here;  to  which  end  they  Suggest 
that  if  His  Majestie  would  be  graciously  Pleas'd  to 
Asscertain  wrhat  Salaries  he  thought  proper  to  allow  to 
his  Several  Governours,  to  the  Councellors,  during 
their  Attendance  in  Council,  to  the  Secretaries,  Clerks 
of  the  Council,  Judges,  Receivers  General  and  other 
necessary  Officers  of  the  Governments,  and  Incidental 
charges  at  a  Sterling  Value;  and  that  so  many  bills  of 
Credit  be  printed  in  or  for  each  of  the  Provinces  that 
when  put  at  a  moderate  Interest  of  4.  4%  or  at  most  5 
P  Cent  the  Interest  arising  from  them  may  defray  the 
charges  of  Each  Government  And  that  attending  the 
printing  and  letting  these  bills  Each  of  these  Prov- 
ince bills  to  be  distinguished,  to  be  regularly  paid  in 
and  let  out  as  now,  and  when  worn  or  Obliterated  new 
made  to  change  them  as  at  Present. 

This  it  is  said  will  Asscertain  or  prety  nearly  Asscer- 
tain the  quantity  of  what  they  call  paper  Money  in  the 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          137 

plantations,  prevent  the  making  any  more  for  the 
future  than  what  his  Majestic  will  please  to  direct, 
render  the  Several  Governours,  Councellors  and  Offi- 
cers of  the  Government  independant  on  Assemblies 
for  their  Support,  and  consequently  prevent  those 
mean  Condescentions  that  are  too  often  made  to  Obtain 
a  Scanty  Subsistance,  prevent  the  Governours  from 
bartering  the  Kings  Prerogatives  or  Lands  for  bread, 
give  the  Councils  a  greater  weight  and  Influence  than 
they  at  Present  have  and  be  a  means  of  Keeping 
Assemblies  within  their  Just  and  proper  limmits. 

Some  of  these  things  are  veiy  desireable;  but  to 
Obtain  them  seem  to  require  the  Aid  Either  of  the 
Several  Legislatures  in  the  Plantations  (which  it  is  not 
to  be  Expected  any  of  the  Assemblies  will  give  into,  if 
they  can  Avoid  the  doing  of  it)  or  that  of  a  Brittish 
Parliament  and  how  far  they  will  Judge  it  fit  bills  of 
any  kind  should  be  current  in  the  Plantations  is  what 
I  cannot  say. 

The  People  who  are  the  borrowers,  and  who  truly 
only  Support  this  Government  would  be  Very  indif- 
ferent whether  such  Bills  were  made  by  the  Authority 
of  a  British  Parliament  or  Jersie  Assembly,  or  whether 
lent  by  the  Government  here  or  the  King,  so  as  they 
could  have  them  at  a  Moderate  Interest. 

Where  Gold  and  Silver  is  wanting  that  it  is  neces- 
sary there  should  be  Something  to  pass  current  as  A 
medium  of  trade  in  Lieu  of  it  Seems  to  me  Evident. 

Inclosed  is  a  Proclamation  Issued  in  Obedience  to 
the  commands  of  the  Lords  Justices,  we  are  not  in 
much  Danger  in  this  Province  of  their  Acting  contrary 
to  the  Act  of  Parliament,  and  I  will  do  my  utmost 
Endeavours  that  such  as  do  shall  be  prosecuted.  I  am 
My  Lords  Your  Lordships  most  Obedient 

Humble  Servant 
LEWIS  MORRIS. 

Lords  Commissioners  of  Trade  &  Plantations. 


13B          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 


Memorial  of  the  Committees  of  the  Proprietors  of  East 
and  West  Jersey  to  Governor  Morris — relating  to 
the  line  between  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

LFrom  Papers  of  James  Alexander,  Surveyor  General,  in  Rutherfurd  Collection, 
and  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  IV, 
p.  125.1 

NEW  JERSEY  S? 

To  His  EXCELLENCY  LEWIS  MORRIS  ESQB  Cap- 
tain General  and  Governour  in  Chief  in 
and  over  his  Majesty  Province  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  Territories  thereon  depending  in 
America  and  Vice  Admiral  in  the  Same  &c 

THE  HUMBLE  EEPRESENTATION  of  the  two  Com- 
mittees appointed  by  the  Eastern  &  West- 
ern Division  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors 
for  making  an  Order  to  promote  the  set- 
tling of  the  Division  line  Between  the  Prov- 
inces of  New  York  &  New  Jersey  And  also 
the  line  between  the  Eastern  &  Western 
division  of  this  Province 

May  it  Pleasure  Your  Excellency 

We  being  appointed  by  the  Councils  of  Proprietors 
of  the  Eastern  &  Western  Division  of  the  Province  to 
Conferr  about  the  settling  &  Adjusting  the  Division 
lines  above  mentioned,  Have  been  applyed  to  by  some 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  Who  dwell  con- 
tiguous to  the  Supposed  line  between  this  Province 
and  the  Province  of  New  York,  in  Order  to  redress 
many  Grievances  and  Injurys  said  to  be  offered  them 
from  that  Neighbouring  Government:  And  having 
made  a  strict  Inquiry  into  the  Affair  Do  find  upon  the 
best  information  We  were  able  to  procure,  that  the 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS   MORRIS.          139 

People  of  that  Government  have  Encroached  on  the 
lands  within  the  limitts  of  this  Province  and  thereby 
dispossessed  many  of  his  Majestys  Subjects  Inhabiting 
therein  of  their  unquestionable  Rights,  under  pretence 
that  the  said  Lands  so  by  them  possessed  &  Claimed 
were  within  the  limitts  of  New  York  Government, 
And  also  Offered  divers  outrages  &  Insults  to  many  of 
the  Officers  of  Your  Excellency's  Government  in  the 
actual  discharge  of  their  Dutys  &  Commissions  within 
the  undoubted  bounds  of  this  Province,  And  Caused 
many  of  them  to  pay  quitt  Rents  and  other  Taxes  for 
lands  certainly  within  this  Province  of  New  Jersey 
held  under  the  proprietors  thereof,  And  as  We  Imag 
ine  that  the  many  inconveniencys  the  Inhabitants  in 
that  part  of  this  Province  undergo  are  principally 
owing  to  the  Division  line  not  being  run  pursuant  to 
the  Acts  of  Assembly  for  that  purpose  made  in  both 
the  said  Provinces. 

WE  most  humbly  desire  Your  Excellencys  Assist- 
ance &  Interest  in  the  procureing  the  said  line  to  be 
run  Between  the  said  Provinces  in  such  manner  as  to 
Your  Excellency  shall  seem  most  proper  &  in  the 
mean  time  to  use  Your  Excellencys  influence  to  put  a 
Stop  to  all  Outrages  &  unjust  proceeding  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  York  against  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Prov- 
ince 

Dated  2d  Septr  1741 

WE  are  your  Excellency's  most  Obed*  h'ble  Serv? 
Western  Division  Eastern  Division. 

John  Reading  Rich1'  Ashfield 

Mahlon  Stacy  Da:  Don:   Dunster 

Clem:  Hall  *  Sam"  Leonard 

John  Coxe  Sam11  Nevill 

[Under  date  of  June  28th  1742,  no  action  having  been 
taken  by  the  Governor  on  the  above  representation, 
he  was  again  appealed  to  by  the  Council  of  Proprie- 
tors of  East  Jersey:  they  said  "  As  there  was  at  that 


140         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

Time  a  Governor  daily  expected  at  New  York,  it  was 
then  thought  proper  to  let  the  Affair  rest  till  he  should 
arrive,  But  as  no  Governor  of  New  York  is  yet  ar- 
rived, and  the  present  unsettled  Situation  of  Affairs 
in  England  renders  it  uncertain  when  any  will,  the 
unhappy  Differences  now  subsisting  between  the  In- 
habitants of  New  Jersey  and  New  York,  occasioned 
by  the  said  Partition  Line  •  being  yet  unsettled,  and 
which  seem  to  threaten  dangerous  Consequences,  oblige 
us,  Sir,  to  remind  you  of  our  former  Petition 
We  therefore  pray  Your  Excellency  to  write  to  the 
present  Lieutenant  Governour  of  New  York  to  join 
with  Your  Excellency  in  endeavouring  to  bring  the 
Settlement  of  the  aforesaid  line  to  a  Speedy  Conclu- 
sion."]—ED. 


Representation  of  the  Council  and  Assembly  of  New 
Jersey  to  Governor  Morris — relative  to  encourage- 
ment for  the  making  of  iron. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  IV,  F.  46  x  47.] 

To  His  Excellency  Lewis  Morris  Esqf  Captain 
General  &  Governour  in  Chief  in  and  over 
His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jersey  and 
Territories  thereon  depending  in  America 
and  Vice  Admiral  in  the  Same  &c. 

The  Humble  Kepresentation  of  His  Majesty's 
Council  and  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  in  General 
Assembly  met  and  Convened. 

M ay  it  please  Your  Excellency. 

We  the  Council  and  House  of  Assembly  beg  leave  to 
Represent  to  Your  Excellency,  That  this  His  Majestys 
Province  of  New  Jersey  under  Your  Government  and 


1741]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          141 

other  the  British  Colonys  in  North  America  (by  the 
Divine  Indulgence)  are  abundantly  Stored  with  Iron 
Ore  as  also  with  Suitable  Conveniences  and  proper 
materials  for  making  the  Same  into  Pigg  mettal  and 
Barr  Iron;  and  could  under  due  Encouragement 
largely  Contribute  towards,  and  probably  in  some  years 
wholy  supply  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  with  that  ne- 
cessary Commodity  for  which  they  become  Annually 
greatly  Indebted  to  Sweeden  and  other  fforeign  Na- 
tions. 

That  We  are  well  informed  that  on  repeated  proofs 
made  of  American  Iron  before  the  Officers  of  His 
Majesty's  Navy  and  other  Skillfull  persons,  the  Same 
has  been  declared  to  Equal  if  not  Excell  in  quality  the 
best  Sweedish  Iron. 

That  the  Inhabitants  of  this  and  the  other  Northern 
Colony's  have  hitherto  made  but  small  Advantage 
therefrom  having  Imported  but  very  inconsiderable 
quantities  Either  of  Pigg  mettal  or  Barr  Iron  into  great 
Britain  or  Ireland  by  reason  of  the  great  discourage- 
ment they  lye  under  from  the  high  price  of  Labour  in 
the  said  Colonies  and  the  Duties  by  Act  of  Parliament 
on  those  Com'odities  Imported  from  his  Majesty's 
Plantations  in  America. 

That  should  it  please  the  British  Legislature  to  take 
off  the  duties  at  present  payable  on  Importation  and 
to  Allow  such  Bounty  thereon  as  to  them  in  their 
Great  Wisdom  might  seem  reasonable  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  and  other  His  Majesty's  Colonies  in  North 
America  would  be  thereby  the  better  enabled  to  dis- 
charge the  Respective  bal  lances  due  by  them  to  then- 
mother  Country,  And  greatly  to  encrease  the  quanti- 
ties of  her  Manufactures  to  them  Exported  (as  their 
Returns  would  be  in  those  only)  whereby  the  Annual 
Debt  by  her  incurred  to  Sweeden  and  other  fforeign 
Nations  for  Iron  would  be  considerably  Lesseu'd  and 
the  Navigation  and  Ship  building  throughout  the 
Brittish  Dominions  greatly  encouraged  and  enlarged. 


142          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1741 

Wherefore  We  the  Council  and  House  of  Assembly 
humbly  request  your  Excellency  That  you  will  be 
pleased  to  Lay  the  Substance  of  this  our  Representa- 
tion before  His  Majesty  The  tender  ffather  of  the  peo- 
ple whose  paternal  Care  extends  Even  to  the  remotest 
of  his  Subjects,  And  in  our  behalf  Humbly  to  beseech 
him,  that  he  will  be  graciously  pleased  to  recommend 
our  Circumstances  as  above  set  forth  to  the  Consider- 
ation of  his  Parliamant,  or  take  such  steps  for  our  re- 
lief and  Encouragement  as  to  him  in  his  Royal  Wis- 
dom and  goodness  shall  Seem  fitting 

NovF  4?  1741 
By  Order  of  the  House  of  Assembly 


November  4??  1741 — By  Order  of  the  Council 


Memorial  of  Rodrigo  Pacheco  and  Richard  Partridge 
on  behalf  of  the  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey,  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade — asking  for  the  confirmation  of 
a  certain  Act. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  4,  F.  47.] 

Memorial  of  Roderigo  Pacheco,  in  behalf  of  the 
Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  New 
Jersey,  praying  ye  Board  to  Report  upon 


1742]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          143 

an  Act  passed  in  that  Province  in  Novb.r 
1703,  for  Regulating  the  Purchasing  of 
Land  from  the  Indians. 

To  the  Right  Honble  the  Lords  Commissioners 
for  Trade  &  Plantations— 

The  Memorial  of  Rodrigo  Pacheco  in  behalf  of 
the  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  division  of 
y6  Province  of  New  Jersey. 

May  it  Pleasure  Yor-  Lordshipps 

An  Act  has  been  passed  in  ye  said  Province  of  New 
Jersey  by  the  Govr  Council  and  Assembly  there  in  y* 
second  year  of  her  late  Majesty  Queen  Ann  Entituled 
an  Act  for  regulating  the  purchasing  of  Lands  from  ye 
Indians,  which  Act  has  been  since  to  wit  on  ye  24.  day 
of  Novem^  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  his  present  Majestys 
Reign  Exemplified  by  the  Governour  of  the  said  Prov- 
ince under  the  Seal  thereof  as  appears  by  the  Exem- 
plification hereunto  annexed,  &  which  Act  has  been 
found  necessary  &  of  good  Service  to  his  Maj'v  Sub- 
jects in  the  said  Province — In  consideration 

Whereof  Your  Memorialist  most  humbly  prays  Yor 
Lordships  would  be  pleased  to  report  on  the  said  Act 
to  His  Majesty  in  order  for  its  receiving  the  Royal 
Approbation. 

Which  is  Humbly  Submitted 

RODRIGO  PACHECO 

I  do  also  humbly  request  that  the  aforementioned 
Act  may  be  confirmed  by  the  King— 

RICH?  PARTRIDGE 

Agent  for  ye  Province  of  New  Jersey 
London  June  yc  16.  1742 


144         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1742 


Address  of  the  Eastern  Council  of  Proprietors  to  Gov- 
ernor Lewis  Morris — relative  to  the  Partition 
Line  between  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Volume 

II,  page  137.1 

To  His  EXCELLENCY  LEWIS  MORRIS  Esqr  Cap- 
tain General  &  Governor  in  Chief  of  His 
Majesties  province  of  New  Jersey  and  Ter- 
ritories thereon  depending  in  America  & 
Vice  Admiral  in  the  Same,  &c. 

May  it  please  your  Exellency 

The  Council  of  proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division 
of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  humbly  Beg  leave  to 
represent  to  your  Excellency,  That,  about  the  month 
of  September  last,  the  Committees  of  the  Councils  of 
proprietors  of  the  Eastern  and  western  Divisions  of 
New  Jersey,  waited  upon  your  Excellency  with  an  ad- 
dress, relating  to  the  partition  Line  between  New 
Jersey  and  New  York:  to  which  address  your  Excel- 
lency was  pleased  to  give  a  favourable  answer;  promis- 
ing to  use  your  utmost  endeavours  to  effect  the  Same: 
And  as  there  was,  at  that  time,  a  Governor  daily  ex- 
pected at  New  York,  it  was  then  thought  proper  to 
let  the  affair  rest  til  he  should  arrive.  But  as  no  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York  is  yet  arrived,  and  the  present 
unsettled  Situation  of  Affairs  in  England,  renders  it 
uncertain  when  any  will,  The  Unhappy  differences 
now  Subsisting  bet  ween  the  Inhabitants  of  New  Jersey 
and  New  York,  Occasioned  by  the  Said  partition  Line 
being  yet  unsettled;  and  which  Seem  to  threaten 
dangerous  consequences;  Oblidge  us.  Sir,  to  remind 
you  of  our  former  petition,  There  being  Leases  of 
Ejectment  lately  Served  by  John  Bayard  on  the  Demise 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          145 

of  Henry  Wileraan,  Claimers  under  a  New  York  title, 
in  the  inferior  Court  of  Orange  County  in  the  prov- 
ince of  New  York,  upon  persons  about  Seven  miles  (as 
we  apprehend  the  Line  Runs)  within  your  Excellen- 
cies Government;  and  great  Commotions  and  disturb- 
ances Seem  to  threaten  these  proceedings  if  not  timely 
prevented,  We  therefore  pray  your  Excellency  to  write 
to  the  present  Lieutenant  Governor  of  New  York  to  Join 
with  your  Excellency  in  endeavouring  to  bring  the 
Settlement  of  the  aforesaid  Line  to  a  Speedy  Conclu- 
sion; and  we  hope,  Sir,  you  will  take  Such  further 
Measures  for  this  end,  as  you  Shall  think  proper  and 
Convenient,  We  are 

Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most 
Perth  Amboy  humble  Servants- 

June  28th  1742 
by  order  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors, 


Affidavit  of  James  Alexander — relative  to  the  position 
of  the  North  Partition  Point  between  New  Jersey 
and  New  York. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  A,  p.jHO.J 


Ejectment  for  lands  said 
to  be  ii 


Bayard  on  demise  of 

WilemanateTurn-  Removed  byhabeas 

out  J      Corpus 

JAMES  ALEXANDER  who  for  about  twenty  seven 
years  last  Past  hath  been  and  Still  is  Surveyor  General 
of  the  lands  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Divisions  of 

'      11 


146          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

the  Province  of  New  Jersey  maketh  Oath  that  the 
Commissioners  and  Allan  Jarratt  Surveyor  appointed 
for  the  Province  of  New  York  and  Commissioners  and 
him  the  said  Alexander  Surveyor  appointed  for  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  in  pursuance  of  Acts  of  As- 
semblys  of  the  said  Respective  Provinces  for  running 
and  ascertaining  the  Division  line  between  the  said 
Provinces  did  for  that  purpose  in  the  month  of  June 
One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  nineteen  meet  at 
Mackackemak  at  the  House  of  one  Swartwoot  and 
there  agreed  on  means  for  ascertaining  that  branch  of 
Delaware  River  upon  which  the  North  point  of  the 
said  Petition  line  should  be  and  the  said  Surveyors 
took  an  observation  for  making  an  Estimate  how  far 
Mr  Swartwoots  was  from  the  Latitude  of  forty  one 
Deg?  and  forty  minutes  in  which  Latitude  the  said  par- 
tition point  should  be  and  by  that  observation  the  said 
Surveyors  esteemed  they  were  about  Sixteen  minutes 
South  from  the  said  Latitude  that  by  the  means  agreed 
on  that  Branch  of  Delaware  River  called  the  Fish  Kill 
was  ascertained  to  be  the  branch  upon  which  the  north 
partition  point  should  be  and  an  actual  Survey  was  in 
the  said  month  of  June  and  July  following  made  from 
Swartwoots  to  the  said  Partition  Point  which  was 
agreed  on  after  many  Meridional  observations  of  the 
sun  taken  by  the  said  Jarratt  &  Alexander  near  the 
said  Partition  Point  both  to  the  Northward  and  South- 
ward thereof  that  on  or  about  the  twenty  fifth  day  of 
the  said  Month  of  July  the  Commissionrs  andSurveyors 
aforesaid  of  both  the  said  Provinces  executed  Inden- 
tures under  their  hands  and  seals  for  Commemorating 
and  ascertaining  the  place  of  the  said  north  partition 
point  so  settled  and  agreed  on  that  after  protraction  of 
the  Survey  aforesaid  from  Swartwoots  to  the  said 
North  Partition  Point  they  the  said  Surveyors  from 
that  and  the  best  Information  they  then  had  did  es- 
teem that  the  Partition  line  would  nearly  run  South 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION"  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          147 

forty  seven  degrees  east  according  to  the  magnetick 
compass  then  was  from  the  north  partition  point 
afores-d  to  the  South  partition  Point  upon  Hudsons 
River  that  the  said  line  fell  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  chains  distant  upon  a  perpendicular  to  it  from 
the  said  Swartwoots  upon  a  North  forty  three  Degrees 
East  course  from  said  Swartswoots  to  the  said  line  and 
with  the  consent  of  the  said  Commissioners  they  the 
said  Surveyors  did  direct  John  Harrison  and  John  Chap- 
man Surveyors  upon  Oath  with  chain  bearers  to  run 
from  said  Swartwoots  North  forty  three  degrees  east 
One  hundred  and  twenty  chains  to  meet  the  said  esti- 
mated Partition  line  and  from  thence  to  run  south 
forty  seven  degrees  east  to  Hudsons  River  marking  the 
trees  along  the  line  and  marking  the  number  of  miles 
from  Swartwoots  said  perpendicular  at  the  end  of 
every  mile  which  work  was  as  this  Deponent  be- 
lieves Justly  performed  by  the  said  Harrison  & 
Chapman  &  their  chain  bearers  a  Journal  of 
which  work  was  delivered  by  the  said  Harrison  & 
Chapman  to  the  said  Jarratt  and  Alexander  on  or 
about  the  seventeenth  day  of  August  One  thousand 
seven  hundred  &  nineteen  (a  copy  of  which  the  said 
Alexander  entered  in  a  Book  in  which  he  entered  the 
transactions  aforesaid  and  all  other  material  Transac- 
tions concerning  the  said  line  in  which  he  was  concerned) 
And  this  deponent  further  says  that  in  the  month  of 
August  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  nineteen  he 
with  the  said  Allan  Jarratt  did  make  five  or  six  obser- 
vations of  the  Sun's  meridional  altitude  on  the  West 
bank  of  Hudsons  River  at  or  near  whats  known  by 
the  name  of  Corbitts  Old  house  below  Tapan  Creek  in 
Order  for  the  discovery  of  the  Latitude  of  forty  one 
upon  Hudsons  River,  where  the  South  Point  of  the 
said  Partition  line  ought  to  be  and  the  Commissioners 
being  then  not  come  the  said  Allan  Jarratt  went  for 


148          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

about  four  days  to  New  York  during  which  time  the 
said  Alexander  made  Sundry  observations  of  the  Sun's 
meridional  altitude  and  observed  also  the  meridional 
altitude  of  eight  different  remarkable  Stars  whereof 
some  to  the  Northward  &  some  to  the  Southward  of  the 
Zenith  in  two  different  nights  that  upon  Allan  Jarratts 
return  from  New  York  on  or  about  the  Seventeenth  day 
of  said  Month  of  August  he  brought  word  of  Captain 
Walter's  one  the  Commissioners  being  Sick  and  as 
none  of  the  other  Commissioners  were  come  they  the 
said  Alexander  and  Jarratt  departed  for  New  York  and 
no  meeting  was  afterwards  to  this  day  to  this  De- 
ponent's knowledge  of  the  said  Commissioners  and 
Surveyors  for  ascertaining  the  said  line  and  this 
Deponent  Says  that  by  the  help  of  sundry  actual  Sur- 
veys since  made  of  which  he  has  memorandums  the 
lands  in  Question  in  this  Suit  upon  a  perpendicular 
from  the  said  Estimated  &  markt  Partition  line  to  the 
best  of  his  Judgment  are  upwards  of  seven  miles 
Southwesterly  from  the  said  markt  Partition  line  And 
this  Deponent  farther  says  that  he  hath  carefully  com- 
puted the  observations  made  by  him  and  Jarratt  at 
Corbitts  Old  house  &  the  observations  made  by  him- 
self there  alone  and  from  them  hath  made  an  estimate 
where  the  true  line  of  Partition  ought  to  run  accord- 
ing to  those  observations  and  to  the  best  of  this  Depo- 
nents Judgment  from  thence  and  actual  Surveys  the 
lands  in  question  in  this  Suit  lye  several  miles  South- 
westward  from  the  nearest  place  (to  the  said  lands) 
thro'  which  the  true  Partition  line  should  run  And 
this  Deponent  farther  Says  that  in  a  Book  in  the  Sec- 
retary's office  of  New  York  he  believes  entitled  a  Book 
of  General  Entries  from  1686  to  1702  fo.  49  there  was 
an  Entry  as  Subscribed  by  Andrew  Robinson  & 
Philip  Wells  that  by  two  observations  of  the  Sun's 
meridionl  altitude  made  the  eighth  &  twenty  ninth 
days  of  September  1686,  it  appeared  to  them  &  George 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          149 

Keith  observers  that  the  fortieth  and  one  degree  of 
Northern  latitude  upon  Hudson  River  is  one  minute 
&  twenty  five  Seconds  to  the  Northward  of  Yonkers 
Miln  And  this  deponent  farther  Says  that  to  the  best 
of  his  Judgment  &  by  the  help  of  actual  Surveys  a 
line  runing  from  the  said  point  estimated  by  Wells  & 
Robinson  as  aforesaid  as  the  partition  point  on  Hud- 
sons  River  to  the  said  point  fixed  upon  the  Fish  Kill 
branch  of  Delaware  river  by  the  Commissioners  and 
Surveyors  as  aforesaid  will  leave  the  lands  in  Question 
considerably  to  the  Southwestward  thereof  And  this 
Deponent  says  that  besides  the  lands  in  question  there 
are  sundry  lands  in  the  actual  possession  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Eastern  devision  of  New  Jersey  &  their  as- 
signs which  to  the  best  of  his  Judgment  are  several 
Miles  nearer  to  the  said  estimated  &  markt  partition  line 
than  the  lands  in  Question  are  and  that  he  partly 
knows  &  in  part  hath  heard  &  verily  believes  that  the 
Sherifs  and  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  Province 
of  New  Jersey  do  exercise  &  for  many  years  past  have 
actually  exercised  the  Jurisdiction  of  New  Jersey  upon 
&  to  the  Northward  of  the  Lands  in  Question  &  near- 
er to  the  said  markt  Partition  line  without  any  Inter- 
ruption 

JA.  ALEXANDER.' 

Sworn  the  twenty  fifth  day  of  January  MDCCXLJF 
before  James  De  Lancey. 


i  An  affidavit  of  similar  import,  in  a  case  Daniel  Harrison  ads.  Thomas  Dikey,  is  on 
page  90  of  the  same  volume,  under  date  of  May  16, 1796.— ED 
» 1742-8. 


150         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 


Letter  from  Secretary  Hill  to  Mr.  Fane  —  relative  to 
two  Acts  of  the  New  Jersey  Assembly. 

IFrom  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  XV,  page  29.] 

Letter  to  M?  Fane,  for  h,is  Opinion  on  two  Acts 
passed  at  New  Jersey,  one  in  Novi"  1703, 
the  other  in  Novr  1742. 


To  Francis  Fane 

March  8th  1742-3 
Sir, 

I  am  commanded  by  my  Lords  Commissioners  for 
Trade  and  Plantations  to  send  you  the  two  inclosed 
Acts  passed  at  New  Jersey;  the  one  Entituled  An  Act 
for  regulating  the  purchasing  of  Land  from  the  In- 
dians, Passed  in  Novemf  1703  ;  '  The  other  Entituled 
An  Act  for  the  Support  of  the  Government  of  His 
Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jersey  for  one  Year,  to 
commence  the  23?  of  Sep>:  1742,  and  to  end  the  23?  of 
Sepr  1743;  passed  the  25V  of  Nov^  1742;—  and  to  desire 
your  Opinion  thereon  in  point  of  Law  as  soon  as  con- 
veniently may  be. 

I  am  Sir 

Your  most  humble  Serv1 
Tnof  HILL 


1  This  Act,  although  of  great  importance  to  the  Proprietors,  had  never  received 
the  approval  of  the  crown,  having  been  transmitted  without  the  recommendation 
of  the  Governor.— See  Papers  of  Lewis  Morris,  page  158.  Both  Acts  were  submitted 
to  Thomas  Fane,  for  his  opinion,  and  reported  upon  favorably,  although  not  until 
April  18th,  1743.— ED. 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          151 


Letter  from  John  Hamilton  to  the  Lords  of  Trade- 
relative  to  the  claim  of  Lewis  Morris  for  salary 
while  striving  to  obtain  the  Presidency  of  New 
Jersey. 

(.From  P.  R.  O,  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F.  58  | 

Letter  from  Mr  Hamilton,  Eldest  Councillor  in 
the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  to  the  Board, 
inclosing  the  Case  stated  betwixt  Col°  Mor- 
ris &  the  said  Mr  Hamilton,  relating  to 
Col?  Morris's  Claim  to  the  Government, 
before  he  receiv'd  his  Lett™  Patent  to  be 
Govr  of  New  Jersey.  Recd  August  the  & 
1743. 

My  Lords. 

The  last  I  did  my  Self  the  Honr  to  write  to  Your 
Lordships  was  on  the  30th  of  May  1739  In  that  I 
Acquainted  you  that  Coll0  Morris  had  received  And 
published  his  Commission  to  be  Governor  of  this  Prov- 
ince and  that  when  he  held  a  Council  to  Sign  the 
Warrants  for  the  Officers  Salarys.  he  refused  to  grant 
me  a  Warrant  for  My  Salary  as  President  &  Com'an- 
der  in  Chief  from  the  23a  of  June  1738  to  the  28  of 
Aug'  following,  the  day  he  published  his  Oom'ission  as 
Governor  And  told  me  he  Expected  T  should  pay  him 
all  the  Salary  I  had  received  as  president  from  the  201!1 
of  October  1 73(>  the  time  he  came  here  and  demanded 
the  Government  and  if  I  did  not  he  Should  be  obliged 
to  Sue  me  however  I  heard  nothing  further  (tho  he 
Still  Keeps  me  from  that  Warrant)  of  it  till  last  March 
and  then  the  Governor  Com'enced  An  Action  Against 
me  for  the  Salary  I  had  received  from  the  2o'h  of  Octo- 


152          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

ber  1736  and  lays  the  damages  att  £3000.  which  Suit 
is  not  Yet  come  to  A  tryall. 

As  I  Acted  whilst  I  was  president  all  Along  in  Obe- 
dience to  Your  Lordships  directions  to  me  so  now  I 
humbly  hope  for  Your  protection  and  Assistance  in 
what  method  Your  Lordships  thinks  proper  but  a  Let- 
ter from  Your  Lordships  signifying  that  att  the  time 
Coll?  Morris  demanded  the  Goverment  in  Octf  1736  he 
was  not  then  of  the  Council  (wch  by  Mr  Popples  letter 
to  me  certainly  he  was  not)  And  of  Course  could  have 
no  pretension  att  all  to  the  Goverment,  Such  a  Letter 
My  Lords  would  be  of  great  Service  to  me  upon  this 
tryall  And  of  You  would  be  pleased  to  favour  me  So 
farr  I  hope  to  receive  it  time  Enough  befor  the  fcryall 
comes  On. 

I  presume  to  Send  Your  Lordships  the  Case  Stated 
betwixt  Coll.  Morris  and  My  Self  relating  Coll.  Mor- 
ris's claim  to  the  Goverment  befor  he  received  his 
Letters  patent  to  be  Governor  of  this  province  which 
I  hope  will  lett  Your  Lordships  fully  into  the  matter 
And  shall  take  no  more  of  Your  Lordships  time  up 
but  to  Assure  You  that  I  arn  with  the  most  dutyfull 
regard 

My  Lords  Your  Lordships  Most 
humble  &  most  Obedient  Servant 

Amboy  June  9^  1743  JOHN  HAMILTON 

The  Right  Honb.le  the  Lords  Commissioners  for  trade 
&  plantations. 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          153 


Letter  from  Samuel  Qellibrand,  Deputy  Secretary  of 
the  Lords  of  Trade,  to  John  Hamilton — in  answer 
to  the  foregoing  letter. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  No.  15,  Ent.  Book  D,  p.82.| 

To  John  Hamilton  Esqr  Eldest  Councillor  in  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey. 

Sir, 

In  the  Absence  of  Mr  Hill,  I  am  commanded  by  my 
Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations,  to 
acquaint  you,  that  their  Lordships  have  received  your 
Letter  dated  at  Amboy  the  91?1  of  June  17-43,  by  which 
you  inform  them,  that  Mr  Moms  had  commenced  a 
Suit  against  you  for  the  Salary  you  had  received,  as 
President  and  Commander  in  chief  of  the  Jerseys, 
from  the  20l.h  of  October  1736,  to  the  23?  of  June  1738, 
Whereupon  you  have  desired  their  Lordships  Assist- 
ance, and  they  have  ordered  me  to  acquaint  you,  That 
from  the  Death  of  Mr  Anderson  on  28Vh  March  1736, 
they  have  looked  upon  you  to  be  the  legal  President  & 
Commander  in  chief  of  the  Province  of  East  &  West 
Jersey,  and  in  consequence  thereof,  always  directed 
Letters  and  Orders  to  you  in  that  Quality,  till  M'  Mor- 
ris took  Possession  of  the  Government,  by  Virtue  of 
His  Majesty's  Commission. 

Whitehall  I  am  Sir, 

August  23?  1743  Your  most  humble  Servant 

SAM?-  GELUBRAND.  D.  S. 


154         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 


Instructions  from  John  Hamilton  and  Andrew  John- 
ston to  John  Lawrence  for  running  the  Partition 
Line  between  East  and  West  Jersey. 

[From  Original  among  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society 
Library,  Package  6.  No.  18.] 

Instructions  to  M?  John  Lawrence  Concerning 
the  K-uning  the  Partition  Line  between 
East  and  West  Jersey. 

I8.*  With  this  you'll  Receive  a  Commission  to  you  for 
Runing  the  Partition  Line  between  East  &  West 
Jersey  to  the  Execution  of  which  you'll  be  sworn  as 
in  the  Draught  of  the  Oath  on  the  Back  thereof. 

2?  You  are  to  Employ  Martin  Ryerson  or  Gersham 
Mott  or  some  other  as  an  Assistant  Surveyor  if  you 
think  proper  &  also  proper  Chainbearers  &  Markers 
all  which  are  to  be  sworn  or  Affirm'd  truely  to  Per- 
form the  Office  you  Employ  them  in,  and  to  have  a 
Certificate  of  those  Oaths  or  Affirmations  indors'd  on 
the  back  of  your  Commission  and  Sign'd  by  the  Magis 
trate  who  Administers  the  Oaths  or  Affirmations  to 
them,  before  you  Proceed  to  the  Work, — only  in  Case 
when  you.  are  on  the  Work  by  reason  of  Sickness  or 
otherways  you  find  Occasion  to  Employ  more  or  other 
Persons  than  at  first  you  intended,  you  may  Proceed 
with  them  untill  you  Come  near  the  Habitation  of  a 
Magistrate  &  then  Cause  them  to  be  Sworn  or  Affirm'd 
before  him  that  they  have  hitherto  well  and  truely 
Executed  and  that  they  will  well  &  truely  Execute  the 
Office  you  have  Employ 'd  them  in  to  the  best  of  their 
Knowledge,  and  you  are  to  Direct  the  Chainbearers  in 
Chaining  to  hold  the  Stick  they  are  next  to  Put  in 
the  Ground  in  the  same  hand  with  the  Chain  &  within 
3  or  4  Inches  of  the  End  that  they  are  to  Push  in  the 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          155 

Ground  &  to  Stretch  the  Chain  at  Setting  it  in  the 
Ground  and  to  Direct  the  Marker  to  Mark  the  Trees  as 
hereafter  shall  be  mentioned— 

3d!y  You  are  to  Proceed  to  Little  Egg  Harbour  on  the 
Sea  Coast  with  the  hands  by  you  Employ'd  &  there 
Ascertain  the  most  Southerly  Point  of  a  Certain  Beach 
or  Island  of  Sand  Lying  next  &  adjoining  to  the  Main 
Sea  on  the  North  Side  of  the  Mouth  or  Entrance  of  a 
certain  Inlet  Bay  or  Harbour  CalFd  Little  Egg  Har- 
bour, to  the  Ascertaining  whereof  the  finding  the 
markt  Trees  of  the  Line  run  by  George  Keith  in  the 
Year  1687,  (a  Coppy  of  whose  Survey  from  Lib:  O. 
Page.  1.  you  have  herewith)  from  that  same  Point 
may  be  Assisting  to  you,  for  in  that  Line  that  Point 
then  was,  &  Storms  may  since  that  have  altered  it  by 
Adding  to  it  or  washing  from  it,  but  the  Place  where 
it  formerly  was  we  Conceive  is  what's  to  be  adhered  to 
—if  the  Point  Remain  now  in  the  Line  of  George  Keith 
&  consequently  is  in  the  same  Place  now  where  it  then 
was—  Then 

4.thiy  you  are  to  Chain  Eastward  upon  the  Main  Land 
untill  the  Point  come  to  have  the  same  bearing  as  the 
Course  which  by  your  best  Judgm1.  you  Conceive  you 
ought  to  Run  for  the  Random  Line  and  when  it  bears 
that  Course,  you  are  to  Compute  by  numbers  the  Dis- 
tance to  the  Point,  which  by  the  bearing  at  George 
Keiths  Line  &  the  bearing  at  this  Place  with  the  Dis- 
tance Chain'd.  you'll  be  Enabled  to  Do  &  mark  that 
Distance  upon  the  nearest  Lively  Tree,  &  in  your 
Journal  there  also  remarking  the  Course  &  Distance 
of  the  Tree  from  your  Line,  and  then  Proceed  on  your 
Line  till  you  Come  to  the  next  Compleat  Mile  &  there 
mark  the  Number  of  Miles  from  the  Point  &  Enter  in 
your  Journal  the  Course  &  Distance  of  the  Tree  you 
mark  it  on  from  the  End  of  the  Mile  in  the  Line,  and 
so  Proceed  on  your  Line  marking  a  Tree  at  the  End  of 
Each  Mile  with  the  Number  of  Miles  that  its  distant 
from  the  Point. 


156          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 


should  the  now  Point  be  different  from 
what  it  was  at  the  time  that  George  Keith  run  Then 
that  Variation  must  arise  1?  by  Sand  or  Earth  being 
added  to  the  Point  by  Storms,  or  2^!y  by  Washing  away 
the  Sand  or  Earth,  If  the  first  has  happen'd  then  the 
now  Point  is  South  Westwards  of  the  Point  that  was 
in  being  in  1687,  &  Consequently  George  Keiths  Line 
Continued  will  Cutt  the  Island  &  as  you  can  probably 
have  nothing  to  Direct  you  to  know  whither  most  was 
added  on  the  Side  towards  the  Sea  or  Side  towards  the 
Land,  therefore  the  midle  of  the  Island  upon  George 
Keiths  Line  seems  to  Us  most  rational  to  be  Chosen  as 
the  Place  of  the  Point  in  the  year.  1687.  &  there  a 
Signal  is  to  be  sett  up,  or  in  that  Place  one  of  your 
People  is  to  stand  still  till  you  have  Measur'd  to  your 
Random  Line  &  Observ'd  the  Signal  or  that  Person  to 
be  in  your  Random  Line,  by  which  you'l  have  the  Dis- 
tance to  the  Signal  as  before,  &  then  mark  &  Proceed 
in  your  Line  as  before— 

gthiy  gu^  shoui<i  Storms  have  Wash'd  away  the  Point 
from  the  Place  it  was  in.  1687.  then  it  stands  to  Reason 
that  the  Place  of  the  former  Point  will  be  on  the 
Water  in  the  Mouth  of  the  Inlet  and  in  such  Part 
thereof  as  will  be  Intersected  by  George  Keiths  Line 
Continued  &  in  a  Line  drawn  from  the  Northermost 
to  the  Southermost  Points  of  the  Inlett  to  which  Place 
a  Canoe  or  Periagoe  should  be  sent  &  when  gott  into 
the  true  Place  which  as  to  George  Keiths  Line  may  be 
either  done  by  Signals  from  you  on  the  Shore  to  Go  to 
the  Right  or  Left  or  more  speedily  by  takeing  a  Com- 
pass aboard  &  going  between  the  two  Points  of  the 
Inlett  &  moveing  backwards  &  forwards  till  they  in 
the  Canoe  find  you  on  the  Shore  to  be  in  the  Course  of 
Keiths  Line,  and  then  they  are  to  fix  the  Canoe  the 
best  they  Can  in  that  Place  by  Grapling  or  Ropes  tyed 
about  Stones  untill  you  have  Measur'd  to  your  Random 
Line  &  there  taken  your  Observation  to  find  &  Com- 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          15? 

pute  the  Distance  to  the  Canoe  which  mark  on  a  Tree 
&  proceed  as  before 

•j-twy  ^8  j-0  the  Qourse  Of  your  Random  Line  we  Leave 
it  to  your  Judgment  to  Chuse,  the  same  being  litle 
otherwise  material,  than  that  the  nearer  you  Guess  to 
the  true  Line,  the  Less  will  your  Labour  be  in  fixing 
the  true  Line,  but  tho'  we  Leave  it  to  your  Judgment 
yet  we  think  proper  to  take  Notice  to  you  that  by  a 
Computation  which  has  been  shown  to  you,  made  by 
Benjamin  Eastburn  Late  Surveyor  General  of  Pensil- 
vania  of  the  Traverse,  which  is  Run  by  John  Chap- 
man about  the  Year,  1721.  by  Order  of  the  Council  of 
Proprietors  of  West  Jersey,  the  Course  of  the  true 
Line  should  then  have  been  North  8?  42'  West  &  Dis- 
tance 14188  Miles  but  Allowing  the  Variation  of  the 
Compass  to  be  ore  Degree  in  20  Years  the  Course  now 
in  22  Years  after  should  be  N.  9°  48  Minutes  West,  or 
nearest  N.  9|  Deg'  West. 

gthiy  jn  nmning  your  Random  Line,  you  are  to  Re- 
mark in  your  Journal  everything  remarkable  in  your 
way  As  the  Trees  you  mark  the  Numbers  of  Miles 
upon— at  the  End  of  Each  Mile,  whither  it  be  an  Oak 
a  Pine  a  Walnut  or  whatever  Tree  it  is,  your  Judgm' 
of  its  Diameter,  whether  it  stands  on  a  Riseing  Ground 
&  how  the  Ground  inclines  in  that  Place,  if  the  Land 
be  well  or  badly  Timbered  there  &  of  what  kind,  & 
whatever  else  you  can  Remark  that  can  Lead  you  or 
others  at  any  Time  to  be  certain  of  the  Tree  intended 
&  be  sure  to  Remark  it's  Course  &  distance  in 
Ch'  &  Links  from  the  End  of  the  Mile  in  your  Line 
for  its  not  to  be  Expected  to  find  Trees  often  Exactly 
at  the  End  of  the  Mile— 

O*!*  You  are  to  Cause  every  Tree  which  your  Ran- 
dom Line  cutts  to  be  markt  with  three  Notches  on  two 
Sides  &  Lett  the  Notches  be  as  neerlyas  possible  in  the 
Places  where  the  Line  goes  thio  the  Tree,  &  as  to  the 
Trees  near  the  Line  if  on  the  Right  hand  of  the  Line 


158          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

Let  them  be  markt  with  one  Blaze  on  the  West  Side  of 
them  if  on  the  Left  hand  with  one  Blaze  on  the  East 
Side  of  them,  Looking  to  the  Line  &  Each  with  two 
Blazes  on  2  Sides  in  the  Course  of  the  Line,  and  Lett 
as  many  of  these  as  time  will  Admitt  be  markt  so, 
and  at  the  End  of  Each  Mile  Lett  the  Tree  be  markt 
with  3  Notches  on  the  4  Sides  besides  the  Number  of 
the  Miles  it  is  distant  from  the  beginning  Point— 

10th.ly  You  are  to  Eemark  in  your  Journal  the  Cross- 
ing of  all  Brooks,  Streams,  Rivers  with  their  Names  if 
you  know  them,  their  Breadths,  their  Courses  &  into 
what  greater  Eiver  they  do  Vent— 

llth.ly  Upon  the  Sight  of  all  Houses  in  your  Way  you 
are  to  take  their  Bearings  in  two  Places  of  your  Line, 
and  the  nearer  you  can  do  it  so  as  to  make  those  bear- 
ings meet  at  the  House  in  an  Angle  of  60.  Deg'. 
the  more  certain  will  your  Observations  give  you  the 
Exact  Place  of  the  House,  but  if  it  be  10.  or  20  Deg? 
more  or  Less  it  may  do  well  enough,  so  upon  the 
Sight  of  any  other  Thing  remarkable  near  your  Line 
you  may  fix  the  Place  of  it  by  two  bearings  as  before. 

12^y  If  Martin  Ryerson  or  any  Person  be  with  you 
who  knows  the  Corners  of  any  Patent  or  Survey  thro 
which  your  Line  Runs  especially  those  of  West  Jersey 
beg  him  to  Show  you  that  Corner  thereof  which  will 
come  nearest  to  }rour  Line  &  Measure  to  it,  by  which 
the  Situation  of  that  Patent  or  Survey  will  be  fixt  in 
Relation  to  your  Line— 

13th.ly  When  you  have  so  Proceeded  in  your  Random 
Line  (makeing  as  few  Deviations  as  possible  &  Re- 
turning to  your  Line  as  soon  as  you  are  past  the  ob- 
struction which  Caus'd  your  Deviation  from  the  Line) 
till  you  have  come  to  Delaware  River  which  its  Sup- 
pos'd  you'l  Cutt  some  Miles  below  Minisincks  Island, 
and  that  it  will  afterwards  go  all  the  way  thro  Pensil- 
vania,  in  Runing  of  which  you  are  to  mark  no  Tree, 
&  in  Case  of  any  Obstruction  you  have  herewith  a  Let- 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          159 

ter  from  Mr  Peters  Agent  for  the  Proprietors  of  Pen- 
silvania  to  all  Magistrates  to  Permitt  you  to  Proceed  & 
to  Protect  you— 

14°'.ly  In  your  Passing  thro  this  Province  We  Con- 
ceive your  Commission  herewith  will  be  sufficient  Pro- 
tection in  so  far  as  its  made  by  the  Authority  of  & 
Pursuant  to  the  Act  of  Assembly  af?  &  whoever  shall 
Presume  to  Obstruct  you  will  be  therein  guilty  of  a 
Misdemeanor  &  Breach  of  the  Act  of  Assembly  &  Sub- 
ject himself  thereby  to  be  Prosecuted  not  only  Crimi- 
nally by  Inditement  or  Information  &  to  be  fin'd  at 
the  Discretion  of  the  Court,  but  also  Civilly  for  the 
Damages  done  by  the  Obstruction  which  we  Conceive 
none  will  be  so  foolish  as  to  Subject  himself  to— 

15tb.ly  When  you  Judge  yourself  to  be  abreast  of  the 
Station  Point  on  Delaware  &  a  little  further,  which  if 
Chapmans  Traverse  &  the  Computation  there  be  right 
should  be  at  the  End  of  141?!  Miles  added  to  the  Dis- 
tance between  the  Mainland  &  the  Point  of  Begining 
at  Little  Egg  Harbour  because  Chapmans  Traverse  is 
only  from  the  Main  Land,  Then  are  you  to  Go  to  the 
Station  Point  on  Delaware,  which  you'l  easily  find  by 
the  Description  in  the  Articles  of  Agreement  thereof 
by  the  Comm?  of  both  Divisions  (whereof  you  have 
one  of  the  Original  Coppies  herewith)  &  from  thence 
you  are  to  Run  a  Perpendicular  to  the  Random 
Exactly  measureing  the  Distance  of  that  Perpen- 
dicular &  also  Exactly  Measuring  the  Distance  on 
the  Random  to  the  nearest  Tree  or  Place  whose  Dis- 
tance you  had  before  found,  in  Order  to  find  the  Dis 
tance  from  the  begining  Point  to  the  Perpendicular— 

Kjthiy  you  may  then  Come  back  to  the  Place  where 
your  Random  Cutt  Delaware  &  in  your  Comeing  you 
may  Compute  the  Course  of  the  true  Line  &  the  Dis- 
tance of  thereof  from  Each  mile  Tree  of  your  Random 
Line  upon  Perpendiculars  rais'd  from  your  Random  to 
the  true  Line,  and  for  that  Purpose  you  should  Carry 


160         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

a  Table  of  Logarithms  with  you  in  order  to  be  Exact 
in  those  Computations  and  to  find  the  Course  by  the 
Logarithms  the  Rule  is  this — As  the  Distance  from  the 
begining  to  the  Perpendicular:  is  to  Radius  ::  so  is  the 
Perpendicular  to  the  Tangent  of  the  Angle  of  the 
Difference  between  the  Course  of  the  Random  and  the 
true  Course,  which  Difference  if  the  Random  fall  on 
the  West  Side  of  the  Station  Point  is  to  be  Substracted 
from  the  Course  of  the  Random,  but  if  on  the  East 
Side  is  to  be  added  to  it,  &  the  true  course  is  thereby 
found,  Another  method  without  Logarithms  may  be 
this,  as  the  Distance  added  to  half  thereof :  is  to  86  ::  so 
is  the  Perpendicular, :  to  the  Difference  of  the  Courses — 

The  Integers  if  any  be  in  the  Answer  are  Deg?  the 
Rest  of  the  Answer  is  Decimals  of  a  Degree,  which  are 
to  be  Reduc'd  to  Minutes  by  this  Proportion  as,  100:  is 
to  the  Decimals  ::  so  is  60:  to  the  Minutes. 

This  Rule  by  86.  is  not  absolutely  true  but  in  small 
Angles  as  in  this  Case  comes  Extremely  near  the 
Truth,  &  may  be  Used  to  See  if  no  Error  be  in  your 
Logarithmick  Tables. 

Then  to  find  your  Perpendicular  from  your  Random 
where  it  Cros'd  Delaware  you  may  Use  this  Proportion, 
as  the  whole  Distance:  is  to  the  Perpendicular  from 
the  Station  Point::  so  is  the  Distance  front  the  begining 
to  Delaware:  to  the  Perpendicular  at  Delaware,  Which 
distance  being  Sett  of  brings  you  to  the  true  Line  there. 

To  find  the  Perpendiculars  at  the  Ends  of  the  Mile 
Trees — find  by  Computation  by  Last  Rule  the  Perpen- 
diculars at  the  End  of  two  of  the  Mile  Trees  &  Sub- 
stract  the  Least  from  the  Greatest  &  the  Remainder 
is  the  Difference,  or  the  Perpendicular  at  one  Mile 
from  the  begining,  which  being  added  continually 
gives  the  several  Perpendiculars,  but  to  be  Exact  you 
you  should  have  that  Difference  to  the  thousandth 
Part  of  one  Link. 

Ifthiy  when  thus  you  have  found  your  true  Course 
and  Perpendiculars,  you'l  See  whether  it  be  Easyest  to 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          161 

Run  &  mark  down  the  true  Line  from  Delaware,  Or 
to  Sett  off  your  Perpendiculars  at  the  End  of  Each 
mile  if  your  Random  fall  veiy  wide  of  the  Station 
Point  the  first  will  be  the  Easyest  if  you  fall  within 
half  a  Mile  of  the  Station  Point,  then  the  Last  way  by 
Setting  of  the  Perpendiculars  will  be  Easiest,  &  still 
Easyer  the  further  you  come  down,  If  you  Chuse  to 
run  down  the  true  Line  then  Lett  the  Line  Trees  be 
markt  with  Your  Notches  on  two  Sides  where  the 
Line  cutts  them,  and  the  Trees  near  the  Line  with  8 
Blazes  on  2  Sides  parallel!  to  the  Line  &  one  Blaze 
Looking  to  the  Line,  and  at  the  End  of  Each  Mile 
Plant  a  Stake  &  Raise  a  Heap  of  Stones  about  it,  & 
upon  the  nearest  tree  mark  the  Number  of  Miles 
as  on  the  Random,  Observing  the  Course  &  Distance 
from  the  Heap  of  Stones  to  the  tree,  &  what  Tree  it  is 
&c  as  in  the  8th  &  10th  Instructions,  &  marking  the 
Tree  also  with  four  Notches  on  four  Sides. 

18th-ljr  If  thus  you  run  down  the  Line  you  should  at 
the  End  of  Every  five  or  six  Miles  measure  the  distance 
to  the  Random  to  See  if  it  Agrees  with  the  Computed 
Perpendicular  at  that  Place,  which  for  want  of  more 
accurate  Instrum18  you'l  always  find  to  vary  some 
Links,  which  an  Extreme  small  Inclination — will  from 
time  to  Time  Correct,  but  should  you  neglect  thus  to 
Compare  &  amend  those  Errors  might  grow  consid- 
erable. 

19th.1y  If  you  Chuse  to  Sett  off  the  Perpendiculars 
from  the  End  of  Each  Mile  of  your  random,  Then  at 
End  of  the  Perpendicular  Plant  a  Stake  &  make  a  heap 
of  Stones  around  it  &  mark  a  Tree  with  the  number  you 
Came  from  on  the  Random  &c,  as  in  the  17'!'  Instruc- 
tion, and  at  the  heap  of  Stones  Sett  the  true  Course  of 
the  Line,  &  mark  at  Least  one  Tree  forwards  & 
another  backwards  in  the  Line  with  4  Notches  on  "2 
Sides  &  the  Side  Trees  in  the  Way  to  those  two  with 
Blazes  as  in  17"'  Instruction. 
14 


162          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 


*^y  When  you  have  Carryed  the  Line  down  to 
the  Barrens  below  Crosswicks  we  think  you  need  not 
Carry  it  farther  because  the  true  Line  comes  there 
very  near  to  the  Kandom,  and  we  think  the  Ran- 
dom, with  the  Length  of  the  Perpendiculars  at  Each 
mile  Tree  will  be  sufficient  for  the  remaining  Part. 

21.  When  you  have  thus  finish'd  that  Work  you  are 
fairly  to  Lay  down  on  a  -Map  the  Random  &  true 
Lines  with  all  the  Things  you  Observ'd  in  their  true 
Places,  and  make  Return  to  Us  of  the  Map  and  a 
Copy  of  your  Field  Work  in  Order  for  forming  such 
Certificate  of  the  Work  agreeable  thereto,  as  may  be 
proper  to  be  Recorded,  you  are  also  to  Return  your 
Commission  in  Order  that  it  may  be  Recorded  with 
that  Certificate,  and  also  the  Original  Agreement 
&  of  the  Station  Point  herewith  given  You. 

JOHN  HAMILTON. 

ANDREW  JOHNSTON. 


Letter  from  Governor  Lewis  Morris,  of  New  Jersey, 
to  Governor  George  Clinton,  of  New  York. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  A,  p.  123.  ] 

Perth  Amboy  October  22d  1743. 

[Extract. 

*  *  *  *  I  herewith  Send  you  Coppys  of  the 
representation  of  the  Proprietors  of  this  province  con- 
cerning the  run  ing  the  Division  Line  betwixt  this 
Province  and  New  York,  and  of  a  petition  of  Some  of 
the  Inhabitants  dwelling  nigh  where  the  Said  Line  is 
Supposed  will  run,  complaining  of  abuses  by  some  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  New  York;  It  is  necessary  that  the 
Lines  Should  be  run  as  Soon  as  may  be,  and  untill  that 
can  be  done,  Some  measures  Should  be  taken  to  dis- 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          163 

courage  the  proceedings  complained  of,  which,  unless 
done,  will  probably  be  attended  with  consequences, 
dangerous  to  the  publick  peace  in  those  parts:  and  this 
I  very  much  hope  that  your  Excellency,  by  your 
orders  to  the  Inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  province 
of  New  York  under  your  Government  will  endeavour 
to  prevent;  which  is  all  I  shall  at  present  Say  upon 
that  head.  *  *  *  * 


Petition  of  Abraham  Vanaken  and  Juriam  Westphale 
to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  New  Jersey- 
relating  to  disturbances  on  the  Northern  boundary 
of  the  Province. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  A,  p.  129.1 

To  HIS  EXCELLENCY  LEWIS  MORRIS  ESQB  Cap- 
tain General  and  Governor  in  Chief  in  and 
over  his  Majesties  Province  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  Territories  thereon  depending  in 
America  and  Vice  Admiral  in  the  Same 
&c  AND  To  HIS  MAJESTIES  COUNCIL  FOR 

THE   SAID  PROVINCE. 

The  Petition  of  Abraham  Vanaken  and  Juriam 
Westphale,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  many  other  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey  living 
in  and  near  to  Minisinks  Island  in  Delaware  River 
HUMBLY  SHEWETH 

THAT  by  the  original  grants  of  this  province  of  New 
Jersey,  the  Same  was  to  be  Bounded  on  the  North  by 
a  Streight  Line  between  it  and  the  province  of  New 
York  Extending  from  the  Latitude  of  41"  on  Hudson's 


1G4          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

River  to  the  Latitude  of  forty-one  degrees  and  forty 
Minutes  on  the  Northernmost  Branch  of  Delaware  River 

That  by  one  Act  of  Assembly  of  the  province  of 
New  York  pass'd  in  the  year  1717,  and  by  another  Act 
of  Assembly  of  the  province  of  New  Jersey  pass'd  in 
the  year  1718-9  Commissioners  and  Surveyors  were  to 
be  appointed  as  therein  directed  for  Runing  and  Ascer- 
taining the  said  partition  line  by  Mutuall  Consent  and 
agreement 

That  in  the  year  1719  Commissioners  &  Surveyors 
for  the  Said  provinces  Respectively  were  appointed 
pursuant  to  the  directions  of  the  Said  Acts  for  Run- 
ning and  Ascertaining  the  Said  Line  of  partition  by 
mutual  consent  and  agreement,  and  in  the  months  of 
June  and  July  1719  they  met  together  for  that  purpose 
on  Delaware  River  and  discovered  the  Northernmost 
Branch  of  Delaware  River  to  be  that  Branch  thereof 
called  the  fish  Kill,  and  after  Many  observations  of  the 
Latitude  made  on  that  Branch  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  that  the  Latitude  of  41?  40/  was  in  the  Indian 
Town  called  Cashieghtonk  on  the  Said  Branch  of  Dela- 
ware, which  Indian  Town  is  upwards  of  forty  Miles 
above  Minisink  Island  aforesad,  and  accordingly  the 
Said  Commissioners  and  Surveyors  unanimously  Exe- 
cuted Indentures  under  their  hands  and  Seals  Ascer- 
taining the  place  aforesaid  in  the  Said  Indian  Town  to 
be  the  North  point  of  the  Said  partition  Line  between 
the  provinces  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  That 
the  Said  Commissioners  and  Surveyors  thereupon  did 
direct  a  Line  to  be  run  and  mark'd  from  the  Said 
North  partition  point,  as  near  as  their  Judgment  could 
direct  them,  to  the  Latitude  of  41?  on  Hudson's  River, 
which  Line  was  in  the  Said  year  1719  run  and  mark'd 
accordingly  and  the  Surveyors  of  both  provinces  Mett 
at  Mr  Corbett's  near  Tapan,  where  they  took  many 
observations  in  order  for  Ascertaining  the  Latitude  of 
41?  upon  Hudson's  River,  and  for  discovering  whether 
the  Said  Line  So  Run  and  mark'd  as  aforesaid,  did  in 


1743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          165 

any  thing  and  in  what  differ  from  the  True  partition 
Line;  but  for  what  cause  your  petitioners  Know  not, 
the  Same  Latitude  upon  Hudson's  River  remains  as 
yet  unascertained,  as  does  also  the  Streight  Line  of 
partition  between  the  Said  points  of  Latitude  upon 
Hudson's  River  And  Delaware  River,  if  the  Same 
Should  be  found  in  any  thing  to  Vary  from  the  Line 
run  and  mark'd  as  aforesaid. 

That  your  petitioners  and  their  Neighbours  hold 
Lands  in  and  about  Minisinks  Islands  by  Titles  under 
this  Province,  and  many  of  them  have  been  possessed 
thereof  under  those  Titles  upwards  of  twenty  years 
and  some  of  them  near  forty  years. 

That  there's  So  little  probability  that  Minisinks  Island 
can  fall  into  the  province  of  New  York  by  the  True 
Partition  Line  when  Run,  that  your  petitioners  doubt 
not  to  prove  that  a  Streight  Line  drawn  from  the 
Said  partition  point  upon  Delaware,  to  perth  Am- 
boy,  will  leave  the  Said  Minisink  Island  to  the  West- 
ward, and  consequently  that  Perth  Amboy  and  above 
one  half  of  East  New  Jersey  will  be  more  in  danger 
of  falling  into  New  York  by  the  true  partition  Line 
when  run,  than  the  Said  Minisink  Island  and  Lands 
adjacent. 

And  your  petitioners  humbly  Beg  leave  further  to 
Show  that  Not  withstand  ing  their  and  their  Neighbours 
titles  and  long  possession  under  the  province  of  New 
Jersey  and  the  Said  unprobability  of  their  falling  into 
New  York  by  the  true  partition  Line  when  run,  yet 
have  they  been  frequently  taxed  as  inhabitants  of  the 
County  of  Orange  in  the  province  of  New  York,  and 
those  Taxes  levied  by  the  officers  of  the  Said  County, 
many  miles  within  this  province  with  Such  circum- 
stances of  cruelty  and  injustice  as  we  believe  are 
hardly  to  be  parallelTd,  of  which  your  petitioners  can 
give  variety  of  Instances. 

That  Soloman  Davis  one  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Lands 


166          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

adjacent  to  Minisink  Island,  and  one  of  his  Majesties 
Justices  of  the  peace  for  the  County  of  Morris,  was 
Indicted  by  the  Grand  Jury  of  the  County  of  Orange 
for  Acting  as  a  Justice  of  the  peace  within  their  Coun- 
ty, when  in  Truth  the  place  where  he  Acted  was,  and  is 
as  your  petitioners  Conceive,  Several  miles  within  this 
province,  upon  which  Indictment  the  Said  Davis  was 
fined  forty  pounds  and  to  Keep  himself  out  of  prison 
was  oblidged  \o  Give  his  Bond,  and  has  since  paid  the 
Money. 

That  your  petitioner  Vanaken  having  the  honour  to 
be  Named  in  his  Majesties  Commission  of  the  peace 
for  the  County  of  Morris,  Issued  a  warrant  against 
Johannes  Westbrook  Jun'  and  Peter  Gomar  for  Break- 
ing into  a  house  in  the  Night:  upon  which  they 
were  taken  &  Bound  over  to  Morris  County  Court: 
Soon  after  which,  Coll:  Vincent  Mathews  of  Orange 
County,  Came  to  Perth  Amboy,  and  under  pretence  of 
Keeping  the  peace  nigh  the  line  of  division  Between 
this  province  and  that  of  New  York  he  entered  into  an 
Agreement  with  Joseph  Warrell  Esq.  Attorney  Gen! 
which  was  that  those  people  at  or  near  Minisink  who 
are  inclined  to  be  under  the  Government  of  New  Jer- 
sey Should  Signify  it,  by  Signing  a  paper  prepared  for 
that  purpose:  and  those  who  inclined  to  be  under  the 
Government  of  New  York  Should  also  Signify  it  by 
Signing  a  paper,  as  above,  and  that  no  power  Should 
be  Exercised  over  any  person  but  by  the  officers  of 
the  Government  under  which  he  had  chose  to  be: 
Upon  this  Agreement  Mr  Warrell  discharged  the 
two  persons  Bound  over  as  aforesaid.  And  your  peti- 
tioners have  been  Informed,  and  Verily  believe  that 
the  Agreement  above  Sett  forth,  was  entered  into  by 
Coll  Mathews  with  no  other  intention  than  to  get  the 
two  men  discharged  that";  were  Bound  over  as  afore- 
said: and  not  with  any  real  intention  to  preserve  the 
peace  as  was  pretended:  for  your  petitioner  Vanaken, 


1743  J    ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         10? 

for  taking  the  Subscriptions  in  pursuance  of  the  Said 
Agreement,  was  apprehended  by  the  Deputy  Sheriff  of 
the  County  of  Orange,  at  a  place  Several  miles  within 
this  province,  and  was  canned  to  prison  at  Goshen, 
where  he  Remained  twenty  four  days.  And  your  Said 
petitioner  was  lately  Arrested  in  Morris  County  on  a 
process  out  of  Orange  County  Court  for  nineteen 
pounds  at  the  Suit  of  Johannes  Westbrook  Jun'  and 
Carried  to  Goshen  Goal,  where  he  Remained  a  prisoner 
for  Eight  days,  and  then  was  obliged  to  Give  Bail  to 
the  Action,  and  to  Give  a  Note  of  hand  to  the  Sheriff 
for  thirty  Shillings. 

That  Isaac  Scovenoven  one  of  the  Constables  of  Mor- 
ris County,  and  your  petitioner  Jurian  Westphale,  and 
Several  others  the  Said  Constables  Assistants  in  Serv- 
ing a  warrant  from  your  Petitioner  Vanaken,  are 
Severally  Arrested  in  Morris  County,  on  process  Issu- 
ing out  of  Orange  County  County  Court  for  nineteen 
pounds,  at  the  Suit  of  Johannes  Westbrook  Junr  who 
does  not  pretend  to  have  any  cause  of  Action  against 
the  Said  Constable  or  his  Assistants,  but  their  having 
Executed  the  Said  Warrant  on  him. 

That  Johannes  Hoghtelen  one  other  Constable  of 
Morris  County  (for  what  reason  your  petitioners  know 
not)  had  his  horse  Shott  under  him  within  Morris 
County,  Sundry*  of  his  Goods  taken  from  him,  and 
himself  Committed  to  prison  at  Goshen  where  he  has 
been  four  weeks,  and  Still  remains  there  in  close  con- 
finement. 

May  it  therefore  please  your  Excellency  and  his 
Majesties  Council  to  take  the  heavy  Grievances  under 
which  your  petitioners  and  their  Neighbours  do  labour, 
as  aforesaid  into  your  Consideration,  and  to  Afford 
them  Such  Relief  as  may  put  a  Stop  to  the  like  Griev- 
ances for  the  future  until  such  time  as  the  partition 
Lane  between  the  Said  provinces  Shall  be  finally  run 
and  Ascertained;  and  that  the  said  Line  may  be  run 


168          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOERIS.     [1743 

as  Soon  as  possible  in  order  that  an  end  may  be  there- 
by put  to  the  like  Grievances  afterwards,  and  your 
petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  Shall  every  pray. 
[October  1743]  ABRAHAM  VANAKEN 

his 

JURIAM  ^  WESTPHALE 


Report  of  Chief  Justice  Robert  Morris  to  the  Board 
of  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey — concerning  the 
Northern  Boundary. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library  Vol.  A,  p.  137.] 

MR.  MORRIS  Informed  the  Board  that  on  the  twenty 
fourth  day  of  October  he  waited  on  Governor  Clinton 
at  New  York,  &  delivered  him  a  letter  from  Governor 
Morris,  which  inclosed  a  Coppy  of  the  Petition  of 
Abraham  Vanaken  and  Jurian  Westphale  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Council  of  New  Jersey,  and  coppies  of  two 
Memorials  from  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  the  East- 
ern Division  of  New  Jersey1  to  Governor  Morris  con- 
cerning the  Partition  Line  between  New  York  and 
New  Jersey.  Upon  Govr  Clintons  Reading  the  Let- 
ter and  papers  he  said  it  was  necessary  the  Line 
Should  be  run  and  Settled,  &  that  Some  Steps  Should 
be  taken  to  preserve  the  peace  &  till  that  could  be 
done:  Lieutenant  Governor  Clark,  who  was  present, 
Said  there  would  be  110  way  of  preserving  the 
peace  but  by  runing  the  Line.  Governor  Clinton 
then  told  Said  Morris,  that  he  would  take  the  Matter 
into  Consideration,  and  on  Said  Morris's  return  from 


1  The  memorials  are  on  pages  138  and  144.  In  an  affidavit  referring  to  these  memo- 
rials, made  by  Chief  Justice  Morris  in  September,  1748,  he  draws  attention  to  the  fact 
that,  one  of  them  was  not  from  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey,  but  was 
composed  of  Committees  from  the  two  Councils  of  East  and  West  Jersey.— ED. 


l?43]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  QOVERNOB  LEWIS  MORRI8.  169 

New  England,  where  he  was  then  going,  he  would 
Lett  him  know  more  of  his  thoughts  on  the  Subject. 

Mr  Morris  farther  informed  the  Board  that  on  the 
2S'.h  of  October  he  Returned  to  New  York  from  New 
England,  and  waited  on  Governor  Clinton  to  know 
what  Resolution  he  had  taken  Concerning  the  Line 
of  Partition;  who  Informed  him,  that  he  had  Con- 
sulted Chief  Justice  Delancey  upon  the  head,  and 
Desired  Said  Morris  to  Give  a  meeting  to  Mr  Delancey 
on  that  affair. 

On  the  29l.h  of  October  in  the  Morning  the  Said  Mor- 
ris spoke  to  Chief  Justice  Delancey,  who  desired  a 
meeting  that  evening,  and  Said  he  would  give  Notice 
to  Some  of  the  people  Concerned  in  Lands  on  that 
Line  to  attend,  and  desired  Said  Morris  to  give  Notice 
to  some  others.  Accordingly  a  Meeting  was  had  that 
Evening  at  Todd's  The  persons  present  were.  Chief 
Justice  Delancey,  M'  Lewis  Morris  Jun-  Mr  William 
Smith,  Mr  John  M.°Evers,  Mr  Robert  Batsey,  and  the 
Said  Morris. 

The  occasion  of  the  meeting  being  opened,  M'  M°- 
Evers  Began,  by  Insisting  that  the  Station  points  on 
Hudson's  &  Delaware  Rivers  had  been  fixed  in  the 
year  1686  by  the  Consent  of  Both  Governments,  but 
that  the  Line  had  never  been  run.  That  the  people 
who  held  Lands  under  a  Jersey  Title  to  the  North- 
ward of  those  points  were  ordered  to  take  out  patents 
from  New  York,  and  that  patents  were*  Granted,  not 
only  to  those  who  had  Jersey  titles  but  to  others  for  all 
the  Land  to  the  Northward  of  those  points  So  fixed  on 
Delaware  and  Hudson's  River,  and  had  been  possessed 
ever  Since  under  those  titles.  Said  Morris  then 
observed,  that  it  was  incumbent  on  him  to  Show 

I  who  the  persons  were  that  had  fixed  those  Stations. 

2.  what  Authority  they  were  Vested  with  for  that 
purpose. 

3.  who  gave  them  that  Authority. 


170          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1743 

4.  That  the  persons  appointing  them  had  power  to 
Dispose  of  the  Lands  on  each  side  of  the  Line. 

5.  That  the  persons  So  appointed  and  impowered 
Did  fix  and  agree  upon  the  Station  points. 

6.  Where    those    Station  points   are,  that  were  So 
fixed  &  agreed  on. 

In  answer  to  these  M?  McEvers  produced  and  read  a 
Letter  from  Governor  Hamilton  to  Governor  ffletcher, 
which  is  Said  to  be  wrote  at  the  Request  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  proprietors,  and  mentions  the  Station  on  Hud- 
son's River  to  have  been  fixed  by  the  Surveyors  of 
both  provinces,  west  from  Phillipse's  Lower  Mills,  he 
also  produced  and  read  part  of  the  Act  for  Runing 
the  Division  Line  between  East  and  west  Jersey,  and 
insisted  that  the  Course  of  that  Line  from  Little  Egg 
harbour  was  to  be  N.  14° :  20'  W.  which  he  said 
would  run  to  the  Station  point  in  the  North  Branch  of 
Delaware  which  Was  laid  down  on  a  Map  produced 
by  him:  But  appeared  to  be  the  Westerly  Branch  of 
Delaware,  which  in  that  Map  is  Made  a  large  River 
Runing  North,  and  a  Line  is  drawn  from  that  Branch 
to  Phillipse's  Mills  which  falls  to  the  Southward  of  the 
Minisink  Island.  Then  Said  Morris  further  informed 
the  Board,  that  from  the  Little  Knowledge  he  had  of 
the  Scituation  of  the  Country  Laid  down  in  that  Map, 
he  Judged  it  to  be  a  very  unjust  one,  and  imagined  it 
made  on  purpose  to  deceive  the  persons  Concerned  in 
Lands  on  that  Line,  and  to  tempt  Ignorant  people  to 
purchase  Jersey  Lands  from  New  York  patentees. 
The  Said  Morris  then  produced  an  original  Indenture 
Executed  by  the  Commissioners  and  Surveyors  of 
Both  provinces,  pursuant  to  the  Acts  of  Assembly  of 
the  respective  provinces.  By  which  Indenture  it  ap- 
pears that  the  Commissioners  and  Surveyors  agreed 
on  which  was  the  North  Branch  of  Delaware  and, 
fixed  the  Station  point  upon  it.  He  also  produced  an 
Original  Map  made  by  Allan  Jarratt,  who  was  the 


1  743]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          171 

General  Surveyor  for  the  province  of  New  York,  and 
Assisted  in  fixing  the  Station  point  on  Delaware,  and 
was  also  one  of  the  parties  to  the  Indenture  produced, 
this  Map  Contains  great  part  of  Jersey,  part  of  the 
River  Delaware,  the  Station  point  thereon,  the  Ran- 
dom Line,  and  pail  of  Hudson's  River:  and  insisted 
that  the  agreement  mentioned  in  that  Indenture,  and 
the  Station  then  fixed  would  certainly  Stand  Good 
unless  they  could  show  a  fixing  prior  to  that,  done 
by  persons  having  authority  which  he  imagined  they 
could  not  do,  To  this  it  was  Answered;  that  the  Com- 
missioners on  the  part  of  New  Jersey  were  all  Con- 
cerned in  interest,  and  those  on  the  york  part  were 
ignorant  of  things  of  that  Kind,  that  the  Instrument 
was  Bad;  And  many  other  arguments  were  used 
against  that  Settlement.  M'  MPEvers  Grew  very 
warm,  and  declared  he  had  Sold  the  Lands  down  to 
what  he  looked  upon  to  be  the  division  Line,  and  had 
received  the  money,  and  never  would  agree  to  any 
other  Line.  Mr  Smith  Said  there  was  great  force  in 
M.r  M'rEvers's  Arguments.  The  Chief  Justice  levelled 
all  his  Arguments  against  the  Station  point  on  Del- 
aware: he  being  there  most  Concerned,  At  last  M.r  M.°- 
Evers  produced  a  Copy  of  the  Jersey  Boundaries; 
which  furnished  the  Chief  Justice  with  another  Argu- 
ment, by  which  he  would  confine  the  Jersey  proprie- 
tors to  the  forks  of  Delaware,  and  from  thence  by  a 
Strieght  Line  to  the  Latitude  of  41"  on  Hudson's  Riv- 
er. After  this  there  was  much  talk  to  little  purpose, 
when  they  agreed  to  Meet  again,  and  Let  the  Council 
of  proprietors  know  their  Resolutions. 

From  the  whole  of  Mr  M*iEvers's  Conduct  at  that 
Meeting,  Said  Morris  could  not  but  conclude  that  he 
was  against  runing  the  Line  at  all. 


172          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 


From  John  Hamilton  to  the  Lords  of  Trade — acknowl- 
edging letter  of  Secretary  Gellibrand  of  August 
23d,  1743. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey  Vol  5,  F  56.] 

Letter  from  Mr  Hamilton,  Eldest  Councillor  in 
New  Jersey,  acknowledging  the  Receipt  of 
a  Letter,  by  the  Board's  Order,  dated  j>e 
231?  of  August. 

Amboy  ye  15th  of  May,  1744 

My  Lords. 

I  have  the  honor  of  a  Letter  by  Your  Lordships 
directions  from  M*  Gellibrand  the  23.d  of  Aug'  last  in 
Answer  to  My  Letter  of  the  9th  of  June  1743  and 
return  Your  Lordships  the  Most  Sincere  and  hearty 
thanks  for  Your  goodness  and  Justice  in  giving  so 
favourable  An  Answer. 

Mr  Morris  held  An  Assembly  here  last  Winter  and 
tho  we  Saw  One  Another  Every  day  Yet  had  no  dis- 
course On  that  Subject  nor  has  he  Since  (as  I  can 
learn)  given  Any  directions  about  bringing  the  tryall 
On  So  that  I  hope  I  shall  trouble  Your  Lordships  no 
farther  upon  this  head 

I  am  with  the  greatest  Duty  My  Lords  Your 
Lordships  Most  Obedient  and  Most  humble  Servant 

JOHN  HAMILTON 

R?  Honble  Lords  Com^8  for  Trade  &  plantations. 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          173 


Particulars  of  the  Excommunication  of  a  Chief  Jus- 
tice in  Pennsylvania. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  America  &  West  Indies,  Vol.  XIII,  p.  87.] 
POSTCRIPT 

To  the 
New- York  Weekly  Post-Boy.1 

To  the  Printer  of  the  New- York  Weekly  Post-Boy. 

About  the  Middle  of  October  last,  I  carried  the 
inclos'd  Paper  to  one  of  the  Printers  at  Philadelphia, 
who  at  my  Request,  promis'd  to  give  it  a  Place  in  his 
News-paper,  within  a  Week  or  two  at  the  farthest. 
After  it  had  lain  with  him  a  considerable  While,  I 
wrote  to  him  I  was  informed  he  had  decliu'd  printing 
it:  In  Answer  to  this,  he  tells  me,  I  was  misinform'd, 
for  that  he  had  not  declin'd  printing  it,  but  only  post- 
pon'd  it  for  prudential  Considerations.  On  this  Delay, 
a  Friend  of  mine  in  Town  applied  to  another  Printer 
of  a  Weekly  Paper,  and  he  undertook  to  insert  it  in 
his  next;  but  he  also  declined  it;  and  now  no  Printer 
in  Philadelphia  can  be  prevailed  on  to  print  it,— for 
prudential  Considerations  I  don't  doubt!  As  this 
extream  Caution  of  the  Printers  is  very  unusual,  I 
expect  that  the  Religious  Party,  who  are  principally 
concern'd  in  the  Consequences,  have  interested  them- 
selves in  the  Suppression  of  it.  And  I  am  the  more 
confirm'd  in  this  Opinion  from  their  frequent  Attempts 
of  being  witty  on  its  not  being  printed.  As  the  Publi- 
cation of  it  is  intended  to  expose  Church  Insolence  and 
Religious  Tyranny,  and  it  is  presumed  your  Situation 


1  Forwarded  by  Oov.  Morris  under  date  of  10th  June.— See  Papers  of  Lewis  Mor- 
ris, page  182,  for  some  account  of  the  circumstances.— ED. 


174          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

exempts  you  from  all  Danger  of  the  Practices  of  these 
People;  your  inserting  this  and  the  inclos'd  in  your 
next  Post-Boy,  will  be  acknowledged  by  Yours, 

SAMUEL  CHEW. 


There  is  not  any  Thing  -more  generally  professed 
amongst  Protestants,  than  Charity  and  Toleration. 
New  Sects,  so  long  as  they  stand  in  Need  of  Tolera- 
tion, never  fail  to  preach  it  up,  and  are  able  clearly  to 
prove,  that  Matters  of  Judgment  and  Opinion  not 
being  under  the  Power  and  Direction  of  the  Will, 
ought  to  be  left  free  and  unmolested  to  all  Men:  But 
once  established  and  confirm'd,  we  too  often  find,  that 
those  very  People  who  have  contended  for  Liberty  of 
Conscience  and  universal  Toleration,  soon  become  more 
clear-sighted,  and  plainly  discover  the  Necessity  of 
Uniformity  in  Matters  of  Religion,  arrogate  to  them- 
selves a  Eight  to  prescribe  to  others,  and  even  assume 
a  Power  of  Exclusion  from  God's  Mercy,  those  who 
differ  from  them  in  Opinion.  Instances  from  diverse 
Protestant  Persuasions  might  be  brought  to  evince  the 
Truth  of  what  is  here  asserted;  but  I  know  none  more 
remarkable  and  surprizing,  than  that  of  the  People 
called  Quakers:  It  is  well  known,  that  they  were  at 
their  first  Appearance,  an  humble,  patient,  self-deny- 
ing People;  that  they  preached  up  Charity,  Forbear- 
ance, and  Brotherly  Love;  commended  all  Men  to  a 
certain  inward  Principle  or  divine  Teacher,  placed  in 
their  Breasts,  to  be  the  Sole  Guide  and  Director  in 
Matters  of  Faith  and  Religion :  They  not  only  dis- 
claimed and  zealously  condemned  all  kind  of  Force 
and  Coertion  upon  the  Consciences  of  others;  but  bore 
Persecution  themselves  with  an  astonishing  Firmness. 
This  Spirit  of  Peace  and  Charity  they  maintain'd  as 
long  as  they  had  Occasion  for  it,  that  is,  so  long  as 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          175 

they  were  oppressed  and  persecuted :  But  having  once 
got  a  little  firmer  Standing,  and  some  Reputation  in 
the  World,  upon  the  score  of  their  moral  Conduct  and 
inoffensive  Behaviour,  they  began  to  display  them- 
selves, and  not  only  exact  from  those  of  their  own 
Community  a  strict  Conformity  to  Rules  and  Disci- 
pline, but  setting  themselves  above  that  Light  which 
they  had  recommended  to  all  Men  as  the  only  Guide, 
they  set  up  such  Right  to  judge  others  for  Matters  of 
Opinion,  as  was  by  no  Means  reconcileable  to  that 
Principle  of  Religious  Liberty  upon  which  they  first 
set  out:  Hence  Papers  of  Condemnation  and  negative 
Punishments  came  into  Use  amongst  them:  These 
indeed  were  at  first  introduced  against  Misbehaviour, 
and  as  Censures  for  an  Immoral  Conduct,  which  was 
so  far  right  and  commendable;  but  in  process  of  Time, 
having  grown  rich  and  powerful,  and  forgetting  that 
they  were  once  a  poor  despised  Remnant,  the  despis'd 
People  of  God,  and  the  People  in  Scorn  called  Quakers, 
they  extend  their  Jurisdiction,  and  Carry  their  Claim 
so  high,  as  for  Differences  even  concerning  speculative 
Matters,  to  exclude  Persons  from  their  Society,  with 
hard  Names,  and  other  Marks  of  Bitterness,  worthy 
the  Pope  himself.  This  I  believe,  however,  has  been 
carried  higher  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
its  Territories,  than  in  any  other  Parts  of  the  King's 
Dominions;  but  for  no  other  Reason  that  I  can  guess, 
than  that  they  are  there  admitted  to  more  Rule  and 
Power  in  the  State,  than  they  generally  enjoy  in  other 
Places.  Was  I  to  stop  here,  I  should  doubtless  be 
taxed  with  great  Injustice,  and  a  Clamour  would  be 
rais'd  against  me,  for  asserting  what  I  was  not  able  to 
prove:  To  evince  therefore,  the  Truth  of  what  I  have 
alledg'd,  I  shall  here  insert  a  Copy  of  one  of  their  Bulls 
of  Excommunication.  But  for  the  Information  of  the 
Reader  it  will  be  proper  to  preface  it  with  a  short 
Account  of  the  Matter  that  occasioned  it.  The  Gov- 


176          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVEENOR  LEWlS  MORRIS.     [1744 

ernor^had  recommended  to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, consisting  chiefly  of  Quakers,  the  putting  the 
Province  into  a  Posture  of  Defence,  upon  account  of 
our  War  with  Spain:  The  Assembly,  to  justify  their 
Refusal  to  comply  with  the  Governor's  Proposal, 
assert  the  Unlawfulness  of  War  to  Christians  in  gen- 
eral, and  enter  into  a  long  Dispute  with  him  about  it. 
The  Assembly  of  the  Lower  Counties  however,  where 
the  Quakers  were  the  Minority,  did  at  the  Instance  of 
the  Governor,  pass  a  Militia  Law,  and  therein,  besides 
the  Directions  for  disciplining  the  People,  made  Pro- 
vision for  Arms,  Ammunition,  Colours,  Drums,  &c. 
The  Quakers  us'd  great  Endeavours  to  defeat  the  End 
of  this  Law,  by  prepossessing  and  prejudicing  the 
People  against  it,  and  raising  a  false  Clamour,  that  it 
was  contrary  to  their  Charter  of  Privileges,  &c.  The 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Lower  Counties,  tho'  a  Quaker, 
happen'd  to  differ  in  Opinion,  with  the  Generality  of 
his  Brethren,  concerning  the  Lawfulness  of  Defence; 
and  apprehending  it  necessary,  for  his  Majesty's  Ser- 
vice and  the  good  of  his  Country,  that  some  Mistakes 
concerning  the  Lawfulness  of  Arms  shou'd  be  removed, 
thought  it  his  Duty  to  enter  into  the  Controversy,  and 
took  an  Occasion  of  doing  it  in  a  Speech  deliver'd  from 
the  Bench  to  a  Grand  Jury.  This  Speech  was  imme- 
diately printed  at  the  Eequest  of  the  Jury:  The  Qua- 
kers took  great  Offence  at  it,  but  never  vouchsafed  to 
answer  it,  but  had  the  Presumption,  however,  to  call 
the  Magistrate  to  a  severe  Account  for  this  part  of  his 
Behaviour  in  the  King's  Court,  and  in  the  Discharge 
of  his  Duty;  and  because  he  could  not  alter  his 
Opinion,  or,  contrary  to  his  Judgment,  basely  prevari- 
cate, and  condemn  what  he  had  done,  they  erect  them- 
selves into  God's  Vice-gerents,  and  in  order  to  intim- 
idate other  Magistrates,  not  only  exclude  him  their 
Society,  but,  in  Effect,  pronounce  him  to  be  out  of 
God's  Mercy,  to  want  Humility,  or  in  other  Words,  to 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          177 

be  in  a  State  of  Damnation.     But  take  the  precious 
Memorial  in  their  own  Words. 

"  Whereas  Samuel  Chew  of  Kent  County,  on  Dela- 
"ware,  was  educated  amongst  us  the  People  called 
"Quakers,  and  has  owned  himself  in  a  Public  Manner 
"to  be  a  Member  of  our  Religious  Society;  yet  not- 
"  withstanding  he  has  appeared  in  print,  contrary  to 
"the  good  Order  established  amongst  us,  for  preserv- 
ing of  Unity  in  our  Society,  as  also  contrary  to  our 
"  profess'd  Principles  and  practices,  in  relation  to  Mili- 
"tary  Performances;  which  may  be  seen  in  a  printed 
"Book,  called,  The  Speech  of  Samuel  Chew,  Esq; 
"  dated  November  21.  1741.  These  Things  appearing 
"in  publick  View,  we  thought  it  our  Duty  to  treat 
"  with  him  in  a  friendly  Manner,  in  order  to  bring  him 
"  to  a  Sense  of  his  Error;  but  could  not  prevail  with 
' '  him  to  retract  any  Thing  of  what  he  had  done;  There- 
fore as  we  cannot  own  the  Work,  we  think  it  need- 
"ful  to  disown  the  Author,  and  do  hereby  declare, 
"that  the  said  Samuel  Chew  is  no  Member  of  our 
"  Religious  Society,  until  he  find  Mercy  with  God.  and 
"  walk  in  Humility  before  him,  and  his  Practices  bet- 
"ter  correspond  with  our  Principles;  which  that  he 
"  may,  is  our  sincere  Desire.  From  our  Monthly  Meet- 
ing of  Duck-Creek,  held  at  Little  Creek  the  isth  Day 
"  of  the  8th  Month.  1742.  Signed  in  and  by  Order  of 
"our  said  Meeting,  by 

WILLIAM  HAMANS, 
Clerk. 


13 


178         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 


Speeches  of  Governor  Morris  to  the  General  Assembly, 
with  the  Assembly's  Address,  etc. 

IFrom  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F  70.] 

The  Speeches  of  Govf  Morris  to  the  Assembly  of 
New  Jersey  at  Burlington,  ye  22?  [23?]  June 
1744,  with  their  Address  &  Message  to  him; 
and  some  Observations  from  the  Votes  of 
the  s?  Assembly.  Rec?  May  ye  28th  1745 

Saturday,  June  23,  1744. 

His  Excellency  came  to  Council,  and  having 
commanded  the  Attendance  of  the  House 
of  Assembly,  opened  the  Sessions  with  the 
following  Speech. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Council  and  Assembly. 

The  Accounts  we  have  had  for  some  time  past  from 
Europe,  give  us  Reason  to  believe  that  a  War  with 
France  was  to  be  expected;  for  which  Reason  I  made 
short  Prorogations  of  the  Assembly  of  this  Province, 
that  I  might  soon  meet  them  after  receiving  certain 
and  authoritative  Information  that  War  was  declared, 
which  I  have  not  long  since  received;  and  his  Majesty's 
Declaration  of  War  is  made  publick,  and  consequently 
the  Necessity  known,  of  putting  this  Province  into  as 
good  a  posture  of  Defence  as  we  can,  to  prevent  any 
Damage  from  any  Attempts  the  Enemy  may  make, 
either  by  Sea  or  Land,  and  to  enable  us  to  give  all  the 
Assistance  in  our  Power  to  our  neighbouring  Prov- 
inces, should  they  stand  in  need  of  it,  and  I  am  com- 
manded to  give  upon  any  such  Occasion. 

I  have  more  than  once  recommended  the  Passing  a 
Law  for  the  better  Regulating  of  our  Militia,  which  I 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS   MORRIS.          179 

believe  you  are  not  ignorant  is  not  in  so  good  Order  as 
probably  it  might  have  been,  had  the  Laws  been  more 
strict;  or,  even  loose  as  they  were,  had  the  Officers 
done  their  Duty  in  making  Distresses  where  they  were 
by  Law  required. 

I  have  received  a  Petition  from  the  Lieutenant  and 
other  Officers  about  Trenton,  against  their  Captain  for 
his  Neglect  in  that  Particular,  which  the  Captain  has 
confess'd;  and  owns  tome,  that  these  Distresses  would 
have  amounted  to  about  One  Hundred  Pounds:  But 
urged  in  his  Excuse  for  the  Breach  of  his  Duty,  his 
being  compassionate. 

The  Money  Arising  by  these  Distresses  I  think)  is  to 
be  applied  for  the  Use  of  the  Poor  (tho  in  my  Opinion 
not  the  most  proper  Application)  and  had  they  been 
levied,  the  Poor,  at  least,  would  have  had  some  Bene- 
fit by  it;  and  probably  the  Persons  neglecting  their 
Duty  more  cautious  of  offending  for  the  future,  and 
consequently  better  skill'd  in  the  Performance  of  what 
the  Law  appointed  their  Meeting  for,  and  the  Dis- 
tresses for  neglecting  what  was  thereby  directed:  But 
seems  not  intended  to  give  a  discretionary  Power  to 
the  Officer  of  making  Distresses  or  not,  thereby  evad- 
ing the  whole  Intent  of  the  Act,  and  exposing  those 
ready  and  Willing  to  do  their  Duty,  to  the  Scorn  and 
Derision  of  those  who  must,  if  at  all,  (under  God)  be. 
protected  and  supported  by  their  doing  so. 

I  suppose  the  like  Compassion  (or  something  worse) 
hath  prevail'd  in  the  Counties  of  Burlington  and 
Gloucester;  for  I  have  not  heard  of  any  Militia  Com- 
pany s  meeting  in  either  of  those  Counties;  and  have 
Reason  to  believe,  that  men  tolerably  qualified  to  ex- 
excute  Military  Offices,  are  prevail'd  on  to  decline  ac- 
cepting of  them;  or  when  accepting,  to  neglect  per- 
forming the  Duty  of  them. 

Things  of  this  Nature  should  not  be  in  this  Condi- 
tion, because  dangerous  to  the  Publick  Safety,  and 


180         ADMINISTRATION"  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

especially  in  this  Time  of  Wai$,  with  an  Enemy  who  is 
too  well  inform'd  of  the  Circumstances  we  are  in;  and 
(if  we  do  not  take  some  effectual  Methods  to  alter 
them)  wants  neither  Knowledge  nor  Inclination  to 
make  use  of  them  to  our  Disadvantage. 

I  have  more  than  once  spoke  to  you  on  this  Head, 
and  the  last  Time  we  met  I  laid  before  you  a  Letter 
from  the  then  Lords  of  the  Regency,  "Directing  me 
"to  employ  the  most  effectual  means  for  putting  this 
"Colony  into  the  best  Posture  of  Defence  that  should 
"be  possible,  and  to  be  constantly  upon  my  Guard 
"  against  any  Surprize  from  any  Quarter  whatsoever." 
And  a  Second  wherein  they  further  direct  me,  "To 
"put  the  Forces  belonging  to  this  Province  into  such 
"a  Condition,  as  to  be  able  not  only  to  repel  the 
"  French  Forces,  if  they  should  attack  this  Province, 
"but  likewise  to  be  in  a  Condition,  if  it  should  become 
"necessary,  to  attack  them."  What  Effect  these 
Letters  had  on  your  Consultations  you  only  can  tell. 

In  what  Condition  we  are  at  present  to  do  either,  is 
not  unknown  to  most  here;  but  that  we  Should  be  in 
as  good  a  Posture  of  Defence,  on  this  Occasion,  as  we 
can  be,  I  suppose  will  not  be  denied  by  any  Friend  to 
the  present  Government.  I  therefore  heartily  recom- 
mend to  you  the  Passing  Such  Laws  as  will  render  our 
Militia  useful  and  effectual  for  our  Defence,  and  that  as 
soon  as  possible:  because  we  know  not  when  nor 
where  we  shall  be  attacked;  tho'  we  are  not  ignorant 
where  it  is  not  unlikely  we  may:  And  whether  some 
Fortifications  be  not  needful,  I  refer  to  your  Consider- 
tion. 

There  will  be  Occasions  of  Watches  in  more  places 
than  one,  and  probably  of  often  Expresses;  and  if  it 
should  be  needful  to  march  or  transport  Forces  either 
for  our  own  Defence,  or  in  Pursuit  of  an  Enemy,  or 
for  the  Assistance  of  our  Neighbours,  Care  should  be 
taken  for  Provisions,  and  Transports  for  them  at  the 


1  744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORHIS.          181 

publick  Charge:  And  there  will  be  a  Necessity  of  often 
Meeting  the  Council,  which  should  not  be  made  a  Bur- 
then to  them. 

I  should  rather  this  Meeting  had  been  at  a  Season  of 
the  Year  when  your  Attendance  on  your  private  Affaire 
could  have  been' more  easily  dispens'd  with,  would  the 
Circumstances  of  Things  have  admitted  it.  But  since 
Things  of  this  kind  have  been  formerly  postponed, 
and  will  at  present  admit  of  no  Delay,  I  recommend 
the  utmost  prudent  Dispatch  to  you,  that  the  Season 
of  the  Year  may  prove  as  little  inconvenient  to  you  as 
possible.  And  I  pray  God  direct  your  Consultations. 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 


Wednesday,  June  27,  1744. 

The  House  of  Assembly,  in  Answer  to  the  above 
Speech  presented  the  following  Address  to 
His  Excellency. 

To  his  Excellency  Lewis  Morris,  Esq;  Captain 
General  and  Governor  in  Chief  in  and  over 
His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jersey,  and 
Territories  thereon  depending,  in  America, 
and  Vice  Admiral  in  the  same,  &c. 

The  Humble  Address  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  in 'General 
Assembly  Convened. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency. 

We  his  Majesty's  dutiful  and  loyal  Subjects  the 
Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  beg 
leave  to  thank  your  Excellency  for  the  Care  you  have 
taken  to  so  order  the  Prorogations  of  the  General 
Assembly,  as  that  upon  any  Emergency  their  Meeting 


ADMINISTRATION  OJ1  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

might  be  'sudden  and  answer  the  Purposes  you  are 
pleased  to  mention. 

Upon  your  Excellency's  Recommendation  to  the 
Passing  a  Law  for  regulating  our  Militia,  we  have 
carefully  and  deliberately  considered  the  Act,  entitled, 
An  Act  for  tjne  Settling  the  Militia  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey,  in  all  its  Parts,  and  we  are  humbly  of  the 
Opinion,  that  as  it  now  stands,  it  not  only  sufficiently 
provides  for  the  settling  of  a  Militia  and  watches  in 
this  Colony,  but  also  enables  your  Excellency  to  give 
what  Assistance  the  Circumstances  of  this  Colony  will 
Admit  of,  to  any  of  our  neighbouring  Colonies  that 
may  want  it. 

The  executive  Part  of  the  Law  we  humbly  conceive 
to  be  lodg'd  in  your  Excellency :  And  those  Military 
Officers  whom  you  have  or  shall  appoint,  that  neglect 
their  Duty,  are  accountable  to  you,  with  whom  the 
Powers  requisite  to  superintend  them  are  invested. 

Had  your  Excellency  pointed  out  who  they  are  in 
the  Counties  of  Burlington  and  Gloucester,  that  take 
upon  them  to  prevail  with  men  tolerably  qualified  for 
military  Offices,  not  to  accept  of  them,  or  when 
accepted,  to  neglect  performing  their  Duty,  we  should 
not  have  been  wanting  to  join  in  the  Examination  of 
their  Conduct;  but  as  no  such  Information  hath  been 
brought  to  us,  their  Cases  seems  not  to  be  our  imme- 
diate Business. 

As  heretofore  the  loyal  Assemblies  of  New  Jersey 
have  che'erfully  granted  Assistance  to  the  utmost  of 
their  Ability  upon  any  Emergencies.  So  your  Excel- 
lency may  be  assured,  they  will  always  readily  do  their 
Duty  in  providing  for  the  necessary  Expences  that 
may  be  occasioned  by  summoning  the  Forces  together 
according  to  Law,  for  repelling  any  Force  that  may 
invade  us  at  Home,  or  for  the  Assistance  of  our  Neigh- 
bours, or  indeed  upon  any  necessary  Occasion  whatso- 
ever. 


1744]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          183 

What  further  remains  to  be  considered  on  these 
Heads,  we  hope  your  Excellency  will  permit  us  to 
consult  our  Constituents  upon.  It  is  now  Harvest 
Time,  and  many  of  the  Mem  here  being  from  Home,  is 
very  Disadvantageous  to  them.  A  Recess  till  the  usual 
Time  for  doing  Business,  we  humbly  conceive  cannot 
be  prejudicial  to  the  Publick:  Nor  any  Business  that 
could  now  hastily  be  done,  so  well  answer  the  good 
Ends  your  Excellency  has  in  View. 

It  is  both  our  Duty  and  Interest  to  provide  for  the 
Safety  of  this  Colony,  by  putting  it  into  the  best 
Posture  of  Defence  we  are  capable  of  doing.  This  in 
the  Time  of  our  Recess,  will  become  the  Subject  of  our 
Consideration;  and  at  our  next  Meeting,  if  we  can  think 
of  any  thing  that  will  be  further  serviceable  to  the 
Colony,  we  shall  then  take  it  into  our  most  serious 
Consideration,  and  make  Provision  accordingly. 

Several  of  the  Members 


being  of  the  People  called 
Quakers  do  agree  to  the 
Matter  and  Substance  of 
the  above  Address,  with 
the  usual  Exception  to  the 
Stile. 


By  Order  of  the  House, 


A.  JOHNSTON,  Speaker. 


Friday,  June  29. 

His  Excellency  made  the  following  Speech  to 
the  Assembly. 

Mr.  Speaker,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly; 

When  I  Spoke  to  you  last  from  this  Place,  I  gave 
some  Instances  which  I  conceived  shew'd  plainly 
enough  some  of  the  Deficiences  in  the  Militia  Act. 
The  first  was  of  one  of  the  Captains  who  had  not  made 
any  of  the  Distresses  appointed  by  that  Act  to  be  made 


184    '     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

• 

upon  the  Persons  not  complying  with  the  Directions 
of  it;  and  which  by  his  Confession  of  the  Thing,  and 
owning  the  Value  of  what  he  believ'd  the  Distresses 
would  have  amounted  to,  shew'd  the  Instance  given 
to  be  true;  and  consequently  that  such  a  Number  of 
Men,  whose  Defaults  would  have  amounted  to  so  large 
a  Sum  as  One  hundred  pounds,  had  not  been  trained, 
as  by  that  Act  was  directed  they  should  have  been; 
and  therefore,  probably,  not  so  knowing  in  the  Per- 
formance of  what  the  Law  appointed  them  to  be 
trained  for,  nor  so  useful  as  they  might  have  been, 
had  the  Law  been  more  strictly  put  in  Execution. 

I  mentioned  to  you,  that  all  the  Excuse  he  made  for 
the  Neglect  of  his  Duty  (or  what  I  conceive  to  be  so) 
was  his  Compassion:  But  that  the  Law  seemed  not  to 
intend  to  give  a  discretionary  Power  to  the  Officer  to 
make  Distresses  or  not,  thereby  evading  the  whole 
Intent  of  the  Act. 

I  am  still  of  the  same  Opinion;  because  the  Law  not 
only  impowers  the  Captain  or  Commanding  Officer  to 
make  out  Warrants  of  Distress,  to  distrain  upon  the 
Goods  and  Chatties  of  the  Persons  neglecting,  but 
requires  him  to  do  it,  So  that  the  making  such  Dis- 
tresses is  his  Duty  to  do,  and  the  Neglect  of  it  a  Breach 
or  Neglect  of  that  Duty  that  the  Law  requires  of  him ; 
and  by  that  Means  eludes  and  evades  the  main,  if  not 
the  whole  Intent  of  it.  But  there  is  not  in  that  Act 
(that  1  can  find)  any  Punishment  appointed  for  that 
Offence,  which  I  take  to  be  one  great  Defect  of  that 
Law,  and  tends  to  render  the  whole  in  a  great  measure 
useless. 

I  did  suppose  (and  I  think  with  Reason)  that  such 
Compassion  (or  something  worse)  had  prevail'd  in  the 
Counties  of  Burlington  and  Gloucester,  for  that  I  had 
not  heard  of  any  Militia  Company's  meeting  in  either 
of  those  Counties;  and  had  Eeason  to  believe  that  Men 
tolerably  qualified  to  execute  Military  Offices,  were 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         185 

prevail'd  on  to  decline  accepting  of  them,  or  when 
accepting,  to  neglect  the  performance  of  the  Duty  of 
them. 

That  Officers  have  accepted  of  military  Commis- 
sions, and  others  hay_e  declin'd  accepting  of  them  in 
those  Counties  and  elsewhere,  is  well  enough  known 
to  me;  That  there  has  not  been  any  meeting  of  Militia 
Companies  since  I  came  to  the  Government,  in  either 
of  these  Counties,  I  have  been  inform 'd,  and  I  believe 
you  or  the  Members  of  those  Counties  know  it  to  be 
true,  that  there  has  been  no  such  Meeting;  and  conse- 
quently that  those  accepting  of  them,  have  been 
prevailed  upon  to  decline  the  Execution  of  them,  and 
others  to  decline  accepting  them  is  manifest:  But 
whether  prevail'd  on  by  the  Persuasion  of  Men,  or  by 
what  other  Motive  I  could  not,  nor  did  not  say.  But 
prevail'd  on  they  were,  if  no  such  Companies  met. 
I  laid  this  as  a  Fact  before  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Coun- 
cil and  your  Honourable  House,  that  proper  Provisions 
might  be  made  to  prevent  the  like  for  the  future;  it 
not  being  very  material  or  much  worth  your  Enquiry 
whether  any  Body  pei*suaded  them  or  not,  if  the  tine 
End  of  the  Militia  Act  be  answered,  and  which  I  am 
willing  to  hope  you  will  give  all  the  Help  in  your 
Power  to  do. 

There  is  a  Provision  in  the  Militia  Act,  that  if  any 
Person  appointed  by  the  Captain,  to  be  a  Serjeant  or 
Corporal,  shall  refuse  the  Office,  he  shall  forfeit  the 
Sum  of  Twenty  Shillings.  But  there  is  no  Provision 
made  in  case  of  the  Refusal  of  a  Captain,  Colonel, 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  Major,  &c.  which  are  each  as 
necessary  as  a  Serjeant  or  Corporal;  and  which  (as 
things  are  circumstanced)  People  are  not  easily  pre- 
vailed upon  to  accept. 

The  Quantity  of  Powder  and  Lead  appointed  to  be 
had  on  Appearance,  and  the  Quantity  appointed  for 
each  Man  to  keep  by  him,  seems  to  me  to  be  too  small : 


186          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

And  the  Application  of  the  Fines  to  be  raised  for  the 
Neglect  of  Appearance  to  the  Poor,  seems  not  to  be  so 
proper  and  useful  an  Application,  as  if  they  were 
applyed  to  some  Military  Purpose. 

The  Fines  also  for  not  appearing  or  not  having 
Fuzees,  &c.  seem  to  me  too  small  to  answer  the  Pur- 
pose intended  by  them. 

There  is  a  Clause  in  this  Act,  in  which  it  is  said, 
That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  Captain  Gen- 
eral, &c.  for  the  Time  being,  in  Case  of  Invasion,  to 
call  all,  or  so  many  of  the  Persons  together  for  repel- 
ling the  Force  of  an  Enemy,  or  order  such  Detach- 
ments for  the  common  Defence,  as  he  shall  think  fit, 
to  follow  and  pursue  the  Enemy  into  any  of  the 
neighbouring  Governments,  &c. 

You  may  think,  and  perhaps  do,  that  this  Clause 
enables  the  Governor  to  defend  the  Inhabitants,  to 
pursue  an  Enemy  into  a  neighbouring  Province,  or  to 
assist  them  upon  Occasion;  but  if  you  do,  you  are 
(pardon  the  Expression)  much  mistaken. 

The  King's  Letters  Patent  under  the  great  Seal, 
gave  to  the  Governor  who  passed  that  Act,  the  Power 
of  calling  the  Forces  of  this  Province  together,  at  such 
Times  and  Places  as  he  judg'd  proper  in  Case  of  Inva- 
sion, Insurrection  or  Rebellion,  (not  mentioned  in  our 
Act)  and  to  march  them  against  an  Enemy,  and  pur- 
sue them  out  of  this  Province  into  any  of  the  neigh- 
bouring Provinces,  and  to  give  them  Aid  in  any  such 
Case  if  they  needed  it:  And  the  Act  of  Assembly  is 
only  Declarative  of  the  Power  lodged  in  him,  by 
Virtue  of  the  Letters  Patent,  antecedent  to  the  making 
of  that  Act.  And  the  Governors  of  this  Province 
could,  and  can  do  all  this,  tho'  no  such  Clause  had 
ever  been  made.  So  that  the  Governor  has  no  Addi- 
tion of  Power  by  Virtue  of  this  Act;  and  the  utmost 
Force  of  it,  is  only  to  train  the  Men,  and  teach  them 
the  use  of  Arms  if  they  had  them:  And  were  it 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          187 

effectual  for  that  Purpose  (as  I  think  it  is  not)  it  would 
be  at  best  but  a  good  Preparation  to  make  them  fit  to 
encounter  an  Enemy  and  pursue  them:  But  unless 
subsisted  with  Provision  and  supported,  cannot  long 
resist  an  Enemy  or  pursue;  Cannot  be  marched  from 
one  Place  to  another  in  our  own  Province,  nor  trans- 
ported to  assist  a  neighbouring  one.  And  no  provision 
being  made  for  this  in  the  Militia  Act,  is  the  grand 
Deficiency  of  it;  and  without  such  Provision,  the  Act 
(except  what  it  directs  concerning  the  training  of  the 
men)  is  not  worth  a  Rush;  the  Captain  General  having 
Power  sufficient  (as  I  said  before)  to  do  every  Thing 
which  that  Act  says,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  him  to  do, 
if  that  Act  had  no  being. 

The  Militia,  or  what  we  call  the  Militia,  in  this 
Country,  is  not  a  select  Part  of  the  People  as  it  is  in 
England,  set  apart  for  that  Purpose,  and  under  Offi- 
cers ready  to  be  made  Use  of  on  Occasion,  and  when 
there  is  need  for  them,  employed  and  payed  at  the 
Publick  Charge;  but  the  whole  .Body  of  the  People 
from  Sixteen  Years  of  Age  to  Fifty.  It  is  fit  that  all 
these  People  should  be  trained  and  taught  the  Use  of 
Arms,  and  it  is  chiefly  for  this  that  the  Militia  Act  is 
intended.  Part  of  these  People  that  are  nigh  to  the 
Place  where  an  Enemy  makes  an  Attempt,  may  be 
got  together  and  make  some  Defence,  but  it  will  be 
found  very  difficult,  if  practicable,  to  keep  them 
together,  if  some  Provision  be  not  made  for  their  Sub- 
sistence and  Support. 

It  is  the  Duty  of  every  Man  to  resist  an  Invasion, 
and  consequently  every  one  ought  to  share  in  the  Ex- 
pence  that  it  occasions,  and  not  to  let  it  fall  solely  on 
those  who  are  employed  to  venture  their  Lives  in 
making  the  necessary  Resistance.  Such  Numbers  of 
those  as  it  will  be  necessary  to  employ  on  these  Occa- 
sions, and  to  march  from  Place  to  Place  in  our  own 
Government,  or  to  be  transported  in  Aid  of  another 


188         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

will  naturally  think,  that  they  ought  not,  nor  cannot 
leave  their  Families  and  several  Farms  or  Occupations, 
by  which  they  are  supported,  to  serve  the  Publick 
without  being  paid  for  it  by  the  Publick,  any  more 
than  you  can  leave  yours  to  attend  the  Services  you 
are  chosen  for,  without  being  paid  for  it.  This  is  the 
Practice  of  all  Countries  in  some  Method  or  other, 
and  the  Practice  of  our  Mother  Country,  as  you  may 
see,  by  the  several  Militia  Acts,  the  13l.h,  14*?1,  15^  of 
Charles  II.  the  1st  of  George,  and  indeed  during  the 
Reigns  of  King  William  III.  Queen  Anne  and  King 
George,  Acts  were  annually  made  for  raising  the  Mili- 
tia: Which  Militia  are  always  to  be  employed  as  there 
is  Occasion,  and  such  as  are  employed  to  be  paid  in  the 
Manner  directed. 

The  making  some  Provision  of  this  kind  is  necessary 
at  this  Time,  and  that  without  making  any  unneces- 
sary Delays.  The  doing  what  we  can  do  in  this  Case 
is  much  more  likely  to  prove  effectual  for  the  Defence 
of  our  Country,  if  there  should  be  any  Attempt  made 
upon  it,  than  the  Meeting  three  or  four  Times  a  Year 
to  hear  a  Drum  rattle  or  see  some  Colours  waved,  and 
it  may  be  getting  drunk  into  the  Bargain,  can  do;  tho' 
such  Meetings  are  not  without  their  proper  Use,  to  ren- 
der Men  more  fit  than  otherwise  they  would  be  to  de- 
fend their  Country;  but  without  something  more  will 
never  defend  it. 

Gentlemen,  I  need  not  repeat  what  I  so  lately 

said  both  to  the  Council  and  yourselves.  Our  Accounts 
of  the  Attempts  of  the  Enemy  upon  our  Neighbours  with 
so  great  a  Force  as  five  Thousand  Men,  makes  it  reason- 
able to  think  they  have  further  Views,  and  ought  to 
warn  us  to  prepare  as  much  as  we  can  for  our  Defence 
without  any  Delay ;  and  therefore  I  must  earnestly  in- 
treat  you  to  set  heartily  about  it,  and  to  shew  by  your 
Deeds  that  you  have  the  Interest  and  safety  of  the  Coun- 


174:4]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          189 

try  at  Heart,  and  are  truly  His  Majesty's  loyal  and  Affec- 
tionate Subjects,  which  I  doubt  not  you  will  gladly 
embrace  all  Opportunities  of  doing. 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 


Tuesday,  July  3,  1744 

The  House  of  Assembly,  in  Answer  to  the  above 
Speech,  sent  the  following  Message  to  His 
Excellency. 

Ordered, 

That  M'  Eaton,  and  M'  Cook  do  wait  on  His  Excellency 
and  acquaint  him,  That  this  House  being  willing  to 
pay  the  Regard  due  to  what  was  recommended  to  them 
by  his  Excellency,  committed  his  Speech  of  the  29lh  of 
last  Month  to  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House,  where 
it  was  maturely  consider'd,  and  found  in  Substance  to 
differ  but  little  from  what  the  House  before  under- 
stood to  be  the  Import  of  his  Excellency's  first  Speech 
on  which  they  then  came  to  sundry  Resolutions,  and 
communicated  them  to  his  Excellency  in  their  Address 
wherein  they  assure  his  Excellency  That  they  will 
always  readily  do  their  Duty  in  providing  for  the  ne- 
cessary Expences  that  may  be  occasioned  by  summon- 
ing the  Forces  together  according  to  Law,  for  repel- 
ling any  Force  that  may  invade  us  at  Home,  or  for 
the  Assistance  of  our  Neighbours,  or  indeed  upon  any 
necessary  Occasion  whatsoever. 

That  the  Expence  that  will  attend  Things  of  that 
Nature,  are  so  uncertain,  and  the  providing  for  it  be- 
fore hand,  attended  with  such  innumerable  Difficulties 
that  they  humbly  conceive  the  Assurances  given  are 
sufficient  at  present,  and  that  on  the  whole,  they  see 
no  Cause  to  alter  their  Sentiments  from  what  they  then 
were  on  those  Heads. 


190          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

That  as  to  the  Attempts  of  the  Enemy  upon  our 
Neighbours,  it  is  now  near  a  Week  since  that  Report 
came  to  Town,  and  no  Express  yet  arriv'd  to  his  Ex- 
cellency to  confirm  it,  that  the  House  has  heard  of, 
they  therefore  hope  it  may  prove  groundless. 

That  altho'  the  House  are  under  the  Misfortune 
of  differing  in  Sentiments  from  his  Excellency  re- 
specting the  Act  of  Assembly  for  settling  the  Militia 
that  hath  been  many  Years  in  force  in  this  Colony, 
they  nevertheless  hope  to  shew  by  their  Deeds  on 
every  Occasion,  That  they  have  the  Interest  and  Safe- 
ty of  the  Country  at  Heart,  and  are  truly  His  Majes- 
ty's loyal  and  affectionate  Subjects. 

And  that  the  House  humbly  prays  his  Excellency  to 
grant  them  a  Recess  till  the  usual  Time  of  doing  busi- 
ness. 


Thereafter  his  Excellency  dissolved  the  As- 
sembly with  the  following  Speech. 

Mr.  Speaker  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly, 

I  Endeavour'd  to  shew  you  when  I  last  spoke  to  you, 
that  it  was  necessary  to  make  some  Provision  for  the 
Defence  of  the  Country,  in  Case  we  should  be  attacked, 
as  we  might  be.  I  represented  the  Case  of  our  Neigh- 
bours, who  had  been  attacked.  This  tho'  I  have  re- 
ceived no  Account  of  is  by  Express,  and  perhaps  never 
may,  (this  Government  being  too  remote  to  give  any 
Assistance  to  Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  or  South 
Carolina,)  Yet  by  undoubted  Accounts  the  Thing  ap- 
pears too  true.  The  Council,  sensible  of  the  Danger, 
prepar'd  a  Bill  which  they  pass'd  and  sent  to  your 
House,  which,  contrary  to  the  Duty  of  your  Station 
and  of  evident  ill  Consequence  to  the  Publick,  you 
have  order'd  to  lie  on  your  Table,  and  by  your  last 
Message  you  flatly  tell  me  [That  the  Expences  that 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  191 

will  attend  Things  of  that  Nature,  are  so  uncertain, 
and  the  providing  for  it  before  Hand,  attended  with 
such  innumerable  Difficulties,  that  you  humbly  con- 
ceive the  Assurances  given  are  sufficient  at  present; 
and  that  on  the  whole  ^ou  see  no  Cause  to  Alter  your 
Sentiments  from  what  they  then  were  on  these  Heads] 
which  is  peremptorily  saying  (whatever  your  Promises 
be)  that  you  will  make  no  Provisions  at  all  for  the 
Defence  of  the  Country  before  they  are  invaded.  This 
is  so  far  from  shewing  any  Loyalty  to  your  Sovereign 
that  it  shows  the  contrary,  as  well  as  a  firm  Resolu- 
tion not  to  make  any  Provision  for  Defence,  and  a 
want  of  Affection  for  your  Fellow  Subjects.  I  there- 
fore by  Virtue  of  the  Powers  and  Authorities  to  me 
given  under  the  great  Seal  of  Great  Britain,  do  dis 
solve  this  Assembly,  and  you  are  accordingly  dis- 
solved. 

LEWIS  MORRIS 


AN  ABSTRACT  of  the  Bill,  entitled,  An  Act  for  Set- 
tling and  better  Regulating  of  the  Militia  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New-Jersey,  and  for  making  Provision  in  Cases 
of  Insurrection,  Rebellion,  or  Invasion;  pass'd  by  the 
Council  in  June  1744;  and  sent  by  the  Council  to  the 
House  of  Representative,  for  their  Concurrence;  who 
upon  a  second  Reading  of  the  said  Bill,  would  not 
commit  it,  but  ordered  it  to  lie  on  the  Table, 

1.  The  Preamble  to  the  Bill,  sets  forth,  that  a  due 
Regulation  of  the  Militia,  and  making  Provision  in 
Cases  of  Insurrection,  Rebellion,  or  Invasion  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  for  the  Security,  Preservation,  and 
Defence  of  this  Province  at  this  Time,  when  his  Maj- 
esty is  engaged  in  a  most  just  War  with  France  and 
Spain. 

2.  That  the  Acts  now  in  force  do  not  sufficiently 
provide  for  the  same. 


192          ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

3.  That  therefore  for  the  better  Security  of  the 
Religion,  Lives,  Liberties,  and  Properties,  of  his  Maj- 
esty's Subjects.  Inhabitants  of  this  Province,  it  was 
by  the  Council  proposed  to  be  enacted  in  this  Bill,  as 
follows,  viz. 

1.  That  after  the  Publication  of  this  Act,  every  Cap- 
tain should  make  a  true  and  perfect  List  of  all  the 
Men  within  the  District  or  Division  of  which  he  is 
Captain,  between  the  Age  of  Seventeen  and  Sixty, 
which  he  shall  give  to  the  Colonel,  or  Chief  Officer  of 
the  Militia  in  that  County  or  Regiment  to  which  he 
belongs,  on  or  before  the  first  Day  of  September  next, 
and  so  on  the  first  Monday  in  September  Yearly,  dur- 
ing the  Continuance  of  this  Act. 

2.  That  the  Captain  General  or  Commander  in  Chief 
may  order  one  or  two  Troops  of  Horse  (as  he  shall 
think  it  necessary)  consisting  of  50  Men  each,  besides 
Officers;  to  be  rais'd  in  each  County,  in  Manner  follow- 
ing, viz.  upon  an  Order  from  the  Governor  or  Com- 
mander in  Chief  to  the  Colonel  or  Chief  Officer  of  the 
Militia  in  each  County,  he  shall  call  together  all  the 
Officers  under  his  Command,  as  low  as  a  Captain  (who 
are  commanded  to  give  him  the  best  Information  they 
can  for  that  Purpose)  and  shall  make  a  Draught  out 
of  the  several  Militia  Companies  in  the  County,  of  such 
a  Number  as  are  able  to  furnish  themselves  with  Horse 
and  Troopers  Accoutrements  (afterwards  mentioned) 
as  may  make  up  one  or  two  Troops  of  the  Number 
aforesaid;  and  a  List  of  the  Men  so  draughted,  shall 
be  delivered  to  Persons  appointed  to  command  the 
Troop  or  Troops:    And  in  Case  of  Deficiency  by  Death 
or  otherwise,   the    Colonel  or  Commanding  Officer, 
assisted  as  before,  to  make  new  Draughts  to  make  up 
the  Deficiency. 

3.  Every  Person  of  a  Foot  Company  shall  be  armed 
with  a  good  musket  or  Fusee,  well  fixed,  and  a  Bayo- 
net fitted  to  it,  a  cutting  Sword  or  Cutlace,  a  Cartouch 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          193 

Box,  or  Powder  Horn,  with  H  Charges  of  Powder,  and 
<>  sizeable  Bullets  at  least,  and  shall  appear  at  the  Time 
and  place  of  Muster  so  armed;  and  shall  keep  at  his 
Place  of  Abode,  besides' what  is  above  mentioned,  one 
Pound  of  Powder,  and  four  Pounds  of  Bullets,  and 
shall  bring  them  into  the  Field  if  required.  Each 
Horseman  shall  be  provided  with  a  good  Horse,  Saddle, 
Breast  Plate,  Crupper,  Kirb  Bridle,  Holsters,  a  Case  of 
Pistols,  Cutting  Sword  or  Cutlass,  and  double  Cartouch 
Box,  and  six  Charges  of  Powder  and  Ball,  and  shall 
constantly  appear  so  armed  at  mustering  Time  and 
Place.  And  shall  keep  at  the  Place  of  his  Abode, 
besides  the  Armsabovementioned,  awellfix'd  Carbine, 
with  Bolt,  Swivel,  and  Sling,  one  Pound  of  Powder, 
and  four  Pounds  of  Bullets;  and  bring  them  into  the 
Field  when  required. 

3.  That  the  Colonel  or  Commanding  Officer,  in  each 
County,  shall  muster  and  exercise  all  the  Companies 
under  his  Command,  at  least  once  a  Year,  and  oftner 
if  required  by  order  of  the  Captain  General. 

4.  That  every  Captain  shall  exercise  his  Men  four 
Times  a  Year,  viz.  the  second  Monday  in  August  and 
November,  and  the  last  Monday  in  February  and  May, 
and  at  such  other  Times  as  shall  be  ordered  by  the 
Captain    General;    and  the    Captains   to  give  strict 
Charge  to  their  men  not  to  fire  any  Small  Arms  or 
consume  any  Ammunition  unless  order'd  to  the  con- 
trary by  the  Superior  Officer. 

5.  Soldiers  during  the  Time  of  Exercise,  subjected 
to  the  Command  of  their  Officers,  and  on  Disobedience, 
punishable  by  Martial  Law,  but  not  to  extend  to  Life 
or  Member. 

6.  That  any  Person  appointed  by  the  Captain  Gen- 
eral to  be  an  Officer  in  any  Regiment,  Troop  or  Com- 
pany who  shall  refuse  to  serve,  shall  forfeit,  viz.  a 
Colonel    Ten    Pounds    a    Lieutenant    Colonel    Eight 
Pounds,   major  Six   Pounds,   Captain  Five    Pounds, 

14 


194          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVEENOE  LEWIS  MOEEIS.     [1744 

Lieutenant  Three  Pounds,  Ensign,  Cornet  Adjutant 
Two  Pounds,  and  a  Serjeant  or  Corporal  appointed  by 
the  Captain  Twenty  Shillings.  Every  Captain  failing 
to  appear,  or  appearing,  neglecting  to  exercise  his 
Company,  shall  forfeit,  viz.  a  Captain  Fifteen  Shil- 
lings, a  Lieutenant,  Cornet  or  Ensign  Ten  Shillings, 
every  Soldier  Five  Shillings:  Or  appearing  without  the 
Arms,  &c.  directed,  shall  forfeit,  viz.  for  want  of  a 
Musket  or  Fuse  Two  Shillings,  if  not  well  fixed,  One 
Shilling,  Sword  or  Bayonet,  One  Shilling,  Six  Charges 
of  Powder  and  six  Bullets,  One  Shilling.  Every  Per- 
son draughted  as  aforesaid  for  a  Trooper,  neglecting  to 
appear  at  the  Meeting  of  the  Troop,  to  forfeit  Ten 
Shillings:  appearing  without  a  good  Horse,  Five  Shil- 
lings, not  having  a  good  Saddle,  Breast  Plate,  Crupper, 
Kirb  Bridle,  and  Holsters,  or  any  of  them.  Three 
Shillings,  a  Case  of  Pistols,  Three  Shillings,  not  having 
any  of  the  other  Articles  required  Two  Shillings,  and 
not  provided  with  the  Arms  and  Ammunition  directed, 
at  the  Place  of  his  Abode,  Six  Shillings.  That  the 
Fines  and  Forfeitures  impos'd  upon  any  Person  under 
the  Degree  of  a  Commission  Officer,  be  paid  to  the 
Captains,  and  by  them  apply'd  to  the  purchasing  of 
Drums,  Colours,  Halberts,  and  other  Arms  and  Am- 
munition for  the  Use  of  the  Companies:  and  if  not 
paid,  the  Captain  to  make  out  his  Warrants  to  one  of 
his  Serjeants  or  Corporals  to  distrain;  which  Distresses 
shall  be  made  but  once  in  a  Year;  for  all  the  forfeit- 
ures within  that  Year;  and  the  goods  distrained,  sold 
at  Vendue;  and  out  of  the  money  arising  by  such  Sale, 
to  pay  the  Forfeitures,  and  return  the  Overplus  (if  any) 
to  the  Owners,  deducting  One  Shilling  for  his  Trouble; 
and  if  no  Goods  to  be  found,  one  of  the  Field  Officers 
may  commit  the  Defaulter  to  the  common  Goal  till  he 
shall  pay  the  Fine. 

8.  That  each  Captain  be  required  and  commanded 
to  send  a  Serjeant  once  a  Year  to  the  several  Places  of 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          195 

Abode  of  those  of  his  Troop  or  Company,  to  examine 
whether  they  have  the  Arms  and  Ammunition 
directed:  And  if  any  of  them  refuse,  or  neglect  to 
shew  them  to  the  Serjeant,  upon  the  Serjeant's  Oath 
thereof,  or  of  his  not  having  the  Arms,  &c.  he  shall 
pay  the  Fine  directed;  and  on  Refusal,  the  Captain  to 
proceed  in  the  Manner  before  directed. 

9.  That  each  Captain  shall  keep  an  exact  account  of 
all  Fines  received  by  him,  and  how  he  has  dispos'd  of 
the  same,  and  deliver  such  Account  so  kept,  under  His 
Hand  to  the  commanding  Officer  of  the  Regiment  to 
which  he  belongs;  and  shall  take  into  his  Charge  and 
Care,  all  the  Arms,  &c.  as  shall  be  purchased  by  the 
Fines  arising  from  his  Company,  and  keep  them  in 
good  Order  and  fit  for  Service;  for  which  he  is  to  have 
reasonable  Satisfaction  allowed  by    the    Colonel    or 
Superior  Officers,  to  be  deducted  out  of  the  Fines;  and 
the  Captain,  his  Executors,  &c.  accountable  for  such 
Arms  to  such  Persons  as  shall  succeed  him  in  the 
Command;  and  any  Captain  refusing  or  neglecting  to 
apply  the  Fines  by  him  receiv'd,  shall  forfeit  double 
the  Sum  of  the  Fines  receiv'd,  and  not  apply 'd  as 
aforesaid. 

10.  That  the  Captain  may  deliver  out  such  Arms, 
&c.  at  the  time  of  Training,  as  are  in  his  Charge,  to 
such  of  his  Company  as  he  shall  judge  unable  to  pur- 
chase them;  who  shall  when  Training  is  over,  return 
them,  the  Captain  making  Allowance  for  the  Ammu- 
nition spent  at  that  time:  And  if  the  Person  to  whom 
such  Arms  A:c.  out  of  the  Stores  are  delivered,  shall 
detain  or  embezzel  them,  he  shall  be  committed  to 
Goal  until  he  make  Satisfaction. 

11.  To  prevent  any  wilful  and  obstinate  Defaulter 
escaping  the  Fine  or  Penalty  directed,  all  Captains  are 
to  take  an  exact  Account  in  Writing  of  every  Default 
or  Offence  in  his  Troop  or  Company,  by  whom  done, 
and  at  what  Time;  to  sign  and  deliver  the  same  to  the 


196          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

Commanding  Officer  of  the  Regiment,  the  first  Mon- 
day in  September  yearly,  on  Penalty  of  Forty  Shil- 
lings for  every  such  Neglect;  or  having  delivered  them, 
shall  neglect  by  the  Space  of  two  Calendar  Months  to 
recover  the  Fines,  the  Captain  that  shall  neglect,  shall 
forfeit  double  the  Sum  of  the  Fines  neglected  to  be 
recovered;  to  be  paid  to  the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment, 
and  apply 'd  as  before  directed. 

12.  And  because  Defaulters  may  have  a  just  Excuse 
for  not  complying,  if  the  Colonel  shall  judge  the 
Excuse  reasonable,  he  shall  order  the  Captain  not  to 
take  the  Fine. 

Ig.  Every  Captain  may  make  one  of  his  Company 
Clerk;  who  shall  be  excus'd  from  carrying  of  Arms, 
except  in  Cases  of  Rebellion  or  Invasion. 

14.  Every  Commission  Officer  of  the  Militia  shall, 
before  he  acts,  take  the  Oaths  appointed  by  an  Act, 
entitled,  An  Act  for  securing  his  Majesty's  Govern- 
ment of  New-Jersey. 

1 5.  No  Innholder  or  other  Person  shall  sell  drink  to 
any  Soldier,  on  the  Day  he  is  to  appear  in  Arms,  at 
the  Place  of  his  Training,  or  within  a  Mile  of  it,  with- 
out a  Licence  from  the  Commanding  Officer,  express- 
ing what  Liquor  he  permits  to  be  sold,  on  the  Penalty 
of  Three  Pounds;  and  a  Soldier  appearing  drunk  under 
Arms,  that  Day,  shall  pay  Five  Shillings. 

16.  No  Officer  or  Soldier  directed  to  appear  and 
muster,  or  that  shall  be  appointed  to  watch,  shall  be 
liable  to  be  taken  by  any  Officer  in  any  civil  Action 
whatsoever,  on  the  Day  he  is  directed  to  appear  or 
watch,  or  in  going  to,  continuing  at,   or  returning 
home  from  the  Place  or  Places  appointed  for  Muster 
or  Watch. 

17.  All  Persons  not  Officers,  in  and  of  the  JOfovern- 
ment,  appearing  at  the  Time  and  Place  of  Training, 
shall  be  subject   to    the  Commanding  Officer   then 
present. 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         19? 

18.  That  the  Fines  on  Persons  refusing  to  serve  in 
Military  Offices,  and  on  Officers  neglecting  to  do  their 
Duty,  shall  be  paid  to  tEe  Colonel,  or  chief  Officer  of 
the  Regiment  to  which   they  belong;  who,  on  their 
Refusal  to  pay,  shall  issue  his  Warrant  to  such  Officer 
as  he  shall  appoint,  not  under  the  Degree  of  a  Lieu- 
tenant, to  levy  the  Fines  due,  by  Distress  and  Sale  of 
Goods  as  before  directed;  and  all  Fines  so  levied  by 
the  Colonels,  &c.  shall  by  them  be  apply 'd  to  the  pur- 
chasing of  Arms,  &c.  for  the  Use  of  the  Regiment, 
&c.  and  the  Colonel  or  chief -commanding  Officer,  for 
his  Purchasing  and  Keeping  the  Arms  in  order,  shall 
deduct  so  much  for  his  Trouble,  as  shall  be  tho't  rea- 
sonable by  the  rest  of  the  Field  Officers  of  the  Regi- 
ment. 

19.  That  the  Horse  and  Furniture,  Arms  and  Ammu- 
nition, provided  and  kept  in  Pursuance  of  the  Act,  be 
free  and  exempt  from  being  impress'd,  and  from  being 
seized  by  any  Distress,  Attachment,  or  Writ  of  Execu- 
tion; which  if  made  and  serv'd  upon  any  of  the  Prem- 
ises, shall  be  so  far  unlawful  and  void:  and  the  Officer 
or  Person  that  presumes  to  make,  or  serve  the  same, 
be  liable  to  the  Suit  of  the  Party  griev'd;   wherein 
double  damages  shall  be  given  upon  Recovery. 

20.  That  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Captain -General, 
&c.  in  Case  of  Invasion,  or  Insurrection,  or  Rebellion, 
to  call  all  or  so  many  of  the  Regiments,  Troops,  or 
Companies  together  for  repelling  or  suppressing  such 
Invasion  or  Insurrection;  and  to  order  such  Detach- 
ments for  the  common  Defence  as  he  shall  think  fit; 
and  in  Case  of  need  to  march  them  into  the  neigh- 
bouring Governments;  and  any  Soldier  summoned, 
who  shall  fail  to  appear,  shall  pay  Forty  Shillings. 

21.  That  when  the  Captain-General  or  Commander 
in  Chief  shall  direct  any  Watch  to  lx?  kept  in  time  of 
war  or  Danger,  the  Colonel  or  other  chief  Officer  to 
whom  such  Directions  are  signified,  shall  issue  his 


198  QB  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

Orders"  to  the  Captains  to  appoint  such  Number  of 
Men  to  appear  with  their  Arms  at  such  Time  and 
Place  as  the  Colonel  shall  appoint;  which  Watch  shall 
be  reliev'd  by  Order  of  the  Captain,  &c.  equally 
through  all  the  Companies  in  the  Regiment:  And 
every  Person  refusing  to  appear,  or  to  send  a  Man 
sufficient  in  his  Room,  shall  forfeit  and  pay  the  Sum 
of  Ten  Shillings;  and  every  Person  that  shall  leave  the 
said  Watch  before  reliev'd  by  some  Person  appointed 
to  watch,  shall  forfeit  Forty  Shillings;  provided  no 
Person  be  oblig'd  to  continue  longer  on  the  Watch 
than  24:  Hours  at  one  time;  and  such  Watch  shall 
make  such  Signals,  and  give  such  Alarms  as  directed; 
and  every  Officer  or  Soldier  hearing  such  Alarm,  or 
seeing  such  Signal,  shall  obey  such  Orders  for  repeat- 
ing the  same,  or  calling  together,  or  marching,  &c.  as 
he  shall  receive  from  his  Officer,  &c. 

22.  The  Quakers  to  be  exempted  from  all  the  Duties 
required,  and  the  Penalties  inflicted  by  this  Act;  and 
instead  thereof,  each  of  them  to  pay  Three  Shillings, 
for  every  Day  that  other  People  shall  appear  in  Arms, 
to  the  Overseers  of  the  High  Ways,  to  be  apply'd  to 
the  repairing  Bridges  and  High  Ways;  and  in  Case  of 
Non-Payment  to  be  recovered  in  any  Court  where  the 
same  is  cognizable,  with  full  Cost;  and  the  Overseer 
to  take  to  his  own  Use  Ten  per  Cent,  for  what  he  shall 
so  recover. 

OBSERVATION.  Many  blame  this  Clause  and  think  it 
unreasonable,  and  inconsistent  with  the  Publick  Safe- 
ty, to  exempt  anybody  from  the  known  Duty  of  all, 
to  defend  their  Country;  and  say,  let  the  Tenderness 
in  Conscience  of  those  People  be  real  or  pretended, 
which  themselves  can  only  know,  and  for  which  there 
is  no  Evidence  but  their  own  Words;  which  for  any- 
thing the  Publick  do,  or  can  know,  may  be  false,  and 
at  best  (if  true)  is  a  Weakness  which  should  not  be 
indu]g'd,  and  is  not  (in  this  Case)  indulg'd  any  where: 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          199 

Yet  if  the  Publick  here  think  fit  to  do  it,  and  direct 
them  to  do  something  else  instead  of  bearing  Arms, 
the  Refusal  or  Neglect  of  doing  what  is  so  directed, 
should  rather  be  more  Penal  than  the  Neglect  or  Re- 
fusal of  bearing  of  Arms;  because  they  (the  Quakers) 
are  secure  from  the  Danger  of  their  Laves,  to  which 
others  (in  Case  of  Invasion,  &c.)  will  be  expos'd;  or  at 
last  equally  penal  and  recoverable  with  equal  certainty, 
and  no  greater  Difficulty. 

Common  Experience  has  shewn,  that  many  are  not 
so  conscientious  and  sincere  as  they  should  be;  and  if 
a  Man  can  be  exempted  on  the  Paying  of  Three  Shil- 
lings for  every  Day  he  does  not  appear  in  Arms,  in- 
stead of  five,  and  all  the  other  Penalties  for  not  hav- 
ing Powder,  Bullets,  and  Arms  well  fix'd;  is  it  not 
easy  to  see  which  a  Man  would  choose?  Those  who 
want  Courage  to  fight  in  Defence  of  their  Country, 
may  not  want  Impudence  to  pretend  a  Tenderness  in 
Conscience  against  the  Use  of  the  Carnal  Weapon, 
when  it  is  so  much  for  their  Advantage  to  do  so;  and 
by  this  Law  expose  Quakerism  to  the  Reproach  of  be- 
ing an  Asylum  or  Sanctuary  for  Cowards. — The  Ob- 
jectors againt  this  Clause  as  it  stands  in  the  Bill,  say 
farther,  that  if  the  Tenderness  in  Conscience  be  real  (as 
in  some  few  Cases  it  may  be  with  some  Weak  Men)  Yet, 
that  neither  can,  nor  ought  to  be  judg'd  sufficient  to 
exempt  them  from  having  the  like  Quantity  of  Arms 
and  Ammunition  in  their  Houses  that  other  Men  are 
appointed  to  have,  and  under  the  like  Penalties;  which 
if  they  cannot,  or  will  not  use  themselves,  other  Men 
may. 

23.  That  in  Case  of  Invasion,  Insurrection,  or  Rebel- 
lion (and  not  otherwise)  every  Captain  is  to  raise  the 
Company  under  his  Command,  and  sen4  immediate 
Intelligence  to  the  Colonel  of  the  Regiment,  and  he  to 
the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  next  adjacent  Coun- 
ties, and  in  the  mean  time  to  keep  the  Militia  hi  Arms; 


200         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

and  every  Commanding  Officer  to  whom  such  Intelli- 
gence shall  come,  shall  forthwith  dispatch  an  Express 
to  the  Governor,  &c.  and  for  that  Purpose  is  impow- 
ered  to  press  Boats  and  Hands,  Men  and  Horses,  as  the 
Service  may  require,  to  dispatch  such  Intelligence; 
and  till  Order  arrive  from  the  Governor,  &c,  shall  draw 
the  Militia  of  his  County  together,  in  such  Place  as  he 
shall  judge  most  convenient -for  the  Opposing  of  the 
Enemy. 

24.  That  upon  raising  and    continuing  Forces  in 
Case  of  Invasion,  &c.  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  by 
Warrant  from  the  Governor,   &c,  or  any    Colonel, 
Lieutenant-Colonel,    or    Major,    to    impress    Sloops, 
Boats,     Hands,     Carts,    Waggons,    Draught-Horses, 
Tools,  Utensils,  &c.    useful  for   Digging:   able   Men 
to  go  in  Sloops,   Boats,    Smith,   Wheelwright,   Car- 
penter, or  other  Artificer,  whatsoever. — Provided  that 
no  Tools  or  Instruments  impress'd,  be  made  use  of, 
nor  Boats,  Waggons,  Horses  or  Oxen  till  Appraisement 
be  made  by  two  lawful  Men  upon  Oath,  and  an  Esti- 
mate made  of  a  suitable  Allowance  by  the  Day,  for 
the  Use  of  the  jBloop,  Boat,   Cart,  Waggon,   Horses, 
&c.  and  every  Person  impressing,  to  take  care  that 
such  Appraisment  and  Estimate  be  made,  and  give  a 
Eeceipt  to  the  Owner,  with  the  Account  of  the  Ap- 
praisment, and  for  what  Use  impress'd,  upon  pain  of 
being  liable  to  the  Action  of  the  Party  griev'd  for  an 
unlawful  Seizure. 

25.  That  the  Owners  of  Provisions,  Tools,  Utensils, 
&c,  impress'd  or  taken  up,  shall  be  paid  by  the  Pub- 
lick,  according  to  the  Value  apprais'd,  and  that  the 
Owners  of  any  Sloop,  Boat,  Cart,   Waggon,  Horses, 
Oxen,  so  taken  up  and  employed,  shall  be  paid  by  the 
Publick  for  the  Use  of  them,  according  to  the  Esti- 
mate made,  and  in  Case  any  Sloop  or  Boat  be  cast 
away  and  lost,  and  Cart  or  Waggon  destroy'd,  any 
draft  Horse  kill'd  the  Owner  to  be  paid  for  the  same 


1744]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          201 

according  to  the  Appraisment,  and  Half-pay  for  the 
use  thereof;  and  if  any  Boat,  Sloop,  Cart,  &c,  be 
damnified,  or  any  Horse  or  Ox  hurt  and  disabled  in 
the  Service  then  Satisfaction  shall  be  made  according 
to  the  Damages  receiv'd.  Provided  and  so  meant,  that 
all  such  Damage  be  inquired  and  found  by  two  indiff- 
erent Persons  upon  Oath,  to  be  chosen  and  appointed 
by  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  within  the  County  where 
the  Person  receiving  Damages  resides. 

26.  That  Expresses  shall  be  paid  at  the  Rate  of  four 
Shillings  a  Day  for  a  Footman,  and  Six  Shillings  a 
Day  for  a  Man  and  Horse  for  as  many  Days  as  em- 
ployed or  detained. 

27.  That  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  Representa- 
tives, Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  the  Judges,  Attorney 
General,  Secretary,  Clerks  of  Courts,  Justices  of  Peace, 
Sheriffs,  Under  Sheriffs,  Coroners,    Physicians,  and 
Millers  actually  tending  Grist-Mills,  be  exempted  from 
the  Duties,  Fines,  and  Forfeitures  impos'd:  Provided 
and  it  is  in  the  Intent  of  the  Act,  that  every  Person 
hereby  exempted,  shall  keep  at  his  Place  of  Abode,  one 
good  Musket  or  Fusee,  one  Pound  of  good  Powder, 
and  four  Pounds  of  sizeable  Bullets,  under  the  Pains 
and  Penalties  impos'd  in  like  Cases;  to  be  enquired 
into  and  recovered  by  the  Colonel  or  one  of  the  Field 
Officers  by  him  appointed,  in  any  Court  where  the 
same  is  cognizable,  and  apply'd  in  the  Manner  before 
directed. 

28.  That  the  Act,  entitled.  An  Act  for  Settling  the 
Militia  of  the  Province  of  New-Jersey;  pass'd  in  the 
fourth  Year  of  his  Majesty's  Reign,  and  all  Acts  con- 
tinuing and  reviving  the  same,  be  repealed. 

29.  Provided  that    neither  this   Act  nor  anything 
therein  contained,  shall  be  of  Force  longer  than  five 
Years;  and  from  thence  to  the  End  of  the  next  Ses- 
sions of  the  General  Assembly. 

OBSERVATIONS  from  the  Votes  of  the  Assembly. 


202          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

When  the  Governor  spoke  to  the  Assembly  at  their 
first  Meeting  on  June  23d  1744,  concerning  the  present 
Condition  of  the  Militia,  of  this  Province,  and  recom- 
mended to  them,  the  passing  of  such  Laws  as  would 
render  it  useful  and  effectual  for  our  Defence  (as  ap- 
pears by  his  first  Speech  above)  The  Assembly  (as  ap- 
pears by  their  Votes  of  June  25)  after  a  second  Read- 
ing of  this  Speech,  referr'd  it  to  the  Consideration  of  a 
Committee  of  the  whole  House. 

The  next  Day,  June  the  26th,  the  Committee  re- 
solv'd  that  an  humble  Address  be  presented  to  his  Ex- 
cellency in  Answer  to  his  Speech,  and  that  he  be 
thank'd  for  his  Care  of  the  Colony;  to  which  the  House 
unanimously  agreed. — They  next  resolv'd,  that  it  is  the 
Opinion  of  this  Committee,  on  due  Consideration  of 
the  Act  now  in  Force,  for  settling  of  the  Militia,  that 
the  said  Act  is  sufficient  for  regulating  of  the  Militia. 

This  was  not  unanimously  agreed  to,  but  upon  the 
Question  being  put,  it  was  carried  in  the  Affirmative. 

YEAS.  NAYS. 

John  Eaton,  Samuel  Leonard 

Robert  Lawrence,  Thomas  Farmar, 

John  Van  Middleswart,  Samuel  Nevil, 

Dirrick  Van  Veghten,  Joseph  Bonnel, 

Lawrence  Van  Buskerk,         George  Vreeland, 
David  Demarest,  Aaron  Learning. 

Richard  Smith,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

Isaac  Pearson,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

William  Cook,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

Thomas  Shin,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

Joseph  Cooper,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

John  Mickle,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

William  Hancock,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

John  Willets,  a  profess'd  Quaker, 

Daniel  Doughty,  a  profess'd  Quaker. 

William  Mott. 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          203 

It  appears  by  these  Votes,  that  Thomas  Farmar, 
and  Aaron  Learning,  were  then  of  Opinion,  that  the 
Act  now  in  Force,  for  settling  the  Militia  was  not 
sufficient  for  regulating  the  Militia,  or  they  voted  con- 
trary to  their  Opinions. 

Col.  Farmar,  Messi-s.  Cook,  Smith  and  Lawrence, 
were  Appointed  to  prepare  a  Draft  of  the  Address 
agreed  on;  and  on  June  the  27th  it  was  deliver'd  in  at 
the  Table,  and  read,  and  some  Amendments  made  to 
it,  in  the  House;  and  on  the  Question,  whether  the 
House  agreed  to  it  or  not,  it  was  earned  in  the  affirm- 
ative. 

YEAS.  NAYS. 

The  same  as  before,  with        Samuel  Leonard 
the  Addition  of  Samuel  Nevil, 

Thomas  Farmar,  Joseph  Bonnel, 

and  George  Vreeland. 

Aaron  Learning. 

By  these  Votes  and  the  Address,  it  appears,  that 
Thomas  Farmar,  and  Aaron  Learning,  on  the  27th 
were  of  the  Opinion  that  the  Act  mentioned  as  it  now 
stands,  not  only  sufficiently  provides  for  the  settling 
of  a  Militia  and  Watches,  but  also  enables,  &c.  (as  in 
the  Address;)  tho'  on  the  2«ih;  but  the  Day  before, 
these  Gentlemen  were  of  Opinion  that  Act  was  not 
sufficient  to  regulate  the  Militia. 

On  June  the  29th,  the  Governor  spoke  to  them  a 
second  time,  on  the  same  Head,  in  Answer  to  their 
Address;  and  on  Saturday,  June  So,  the  Council  sent 
them  the  Bill,  of  which  the  Above  is  an  Abstract,  for 
their  Concurrence. 

On  Monday,  July  2d,  after  a  second  Reading  in  the 
House,  it  was  put  to  the  Question,  whether  it  should 
be  committed  or  not?  and  carried  in  the  Negative,  that 
it  should  not  be  committed;  and,  without  putting  any 
Question,  whether  it  should  pass  or  not,  was  order'd 


204         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

to  lie  on  the  Table;  and  on  July  3d,  the  House  sent  by 
two  of  their  Members,  the  Message  to  the  Governor, 
by  Way  of  Answer  to  what  he  had  said  to  them,  on 
the  29th  of  June  before. 

By  all  this,  I  think  it  plainly  Appears,  the  Assembly 
came  together  resolutely  determined  to  make  no  Pro- 
vision for  the  Defence  of  the  Country;  they  having 
had  time  enough  to  do  it,  and  a  Bill  for  tfhat  Purpose 
prepar'd  to  their  Hands,  which  they  would  not  have 
treated  in  the  Manner  they  did,  had  they  had  any  In- 
clinations or  Intentions,  to  have  done  any  thing  of  the 
kind  recommended  to  them.  Who  influenc'd  their 
Conduct,  can  be  no  Mystery  to  those  who  read  the 
Votes,  and  know  the  Men.  I  shall  therefore  ask  a  short 
Question  and  conclude,  viz.  Who  can  with  Justice,  be 
stil'd  the  King's  loyal  Subjects,  and  true  Friends  to 
their  Country;  those  who  are  for  making  Provision  in 
time,  for  the  Defence  of  their  Country,  and  against  an 
Invasion,  in  Case  it  should  happen;  or  those  who  stu- 
diously avoid  doing  any  thing  of  that  Kind,  on  Pre- 
tence that  the  Expence  is  uncertain,  and  the  providing 
for  it  before  hand  attended  with  innumerable  Difficul- 
ties; and  therefore  are  for  delaying  it,  till  after  the 
Thing  happens?  The  Answer  is  obvious;  and  whether 
the  King's  enemies  could  have  done  any  Thing,  or  given 
any  advice  more  suitable  to  their  own  Interest  on  this 
Occasion,  or  more  contrary  to  the  express  and  repeated 
Directions  of  the  Lords  of  the  Regency,  than  those 
who  pretend  they  have  the  Interest  and  Safety  of  the 
Country  at  Heart,  and  are  truly  his  Majesty's  loyal 
and  affectionate  Subjects;  is  not  very  difficult  to  deter- 
mine.1 

1  See  Collections  of  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  Vol.  IV,  p.  194. 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOKKIS.          205 


Order  in  Council,  referring  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Ijords  of  Trade  a  memorial  from  Inhabitants  of 
Eltzabethtown  to  th  e  King,  asking  for  a  hearing 
and  determination  of  their  controversies  with 
the  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey. 

IFrom  Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery,  p  121.1 

At  the  Council  Chamber  Whitehall  the  21st  of 
August,  1744. 

Ey  the  Right  Honourable,  the  Lords  of  the 
Committee  of  Council  for  Plantation  Af- 
fairs. 

His  Majesty  having  been  pleased  by  his  Order  in 
Council,  of  the  19th  of  last  Month,  to  refer  unto  this 
Committee,  the  Humble  Petition  of  his  Majesty's 
faithful  and  loyal  Subjects,  the  Proprietors,  Freehold- 
ers and  Inhabitants  of  a  Tract  of  Land  now  called 
Elizabeth  Town,  in  his  Majesty's  Province  of  New 
Jersey,  in  America-,  whose  Names  are  thereunto  sub- 
scribed, in  behalf  of  themselves  and  others  their  Asso- 
ciates, Proprietors,  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of 
the  said  Tract,  humbly  praying,  for  the  Reasons  there- 
in contained,  that  his  Majesty,  in  his  Most  Honourable 
Privy  Council,  will  be  graciously  pleased  to  hear  and 
determine,  a  Controversy  arisen  between  several 
others,  calling  themselves  Proprietors  of  that  Province 
relating  to  the  Right  to  the  said  Tract  of  Land;  or, 
that  his  Majesty  will  be  pleased  to  appoint  disinterested 
Commissioners  out  of  some  of  the  Neighbouring  Colo- 
nies, and  by  a  Jury  from  thence  also  to  be  taken,  to 
hear,  and  finally  decide  the  said  Controversy;  or, 
that  his  Majesty  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  ap- 
point Commissioners  to  hear,  and  enquire  into,  and 


206          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

determine  the  said  Controversy;  or,  to  grant  such 
other  Relief,  as  to  his  Majesty  should  seem  meet — The 
Lords  of  the  Committee,  this  Day  took  the  said  Peti- 
tion into  Consideration,  and  are  hereby  pleased  to  refer 
the  same  (a  Copy  whereof  is  hereunto  annexed)  to  the 
Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and  Plantations,  to 
consider  thereof,  and  report  to  this  Committee,  what 
they  conceive  proper  for  his  Majesty  to  do  therein. 


To  THE  KING'S  MOST  EXCELLENT  MAJESTY,  &c. 

The  humble  PETITION  of  your  Majesty's  faith- 
ful and  loyal  Subjects,  the  Proprietors, 
Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  a  Tract  of 
Land  now  called  Elizabeth-Town,  in  your 
Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jersey,  in 
America,  whose  Names  are  hereunto  sub- 
scribed, in  Behalf  of  themselves  and  others 
their  Associates,  Proprietors,  Freeholders, 
and  Inhabitants  of  said  Tract. 

Most  Humbly  Sheweth, 

That  his  late  Majesty  King  Charles  the  2d,  by  his  Let- 
ters Patent,  under  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  bearing 
Date  the  12th  Day  of  March,  in  the  Sixteenth  Year  of 
his  Reign,  did  give  and  grant  unto  his  Royal  Highness, 
James  then  Duke  of  York,  his  Heirs  and  Assigns, 
among  other  Things,  all  that  Parcel  of  Land  in  Amer- 
ica, from  the  West  Side  of  Connecticut  River  to  the 
East  Side  of  Delaware  Bay,  whereof  the  aforesaid 
Province  of  New  Jersey  is  that  part,  with  Power  of 
Dominion  and  Government,  in  and  over  the  same,  to 
be  executed  by  his  said  Royal  Highness  himself,  or  by 
such  Deputies,  Commissioners  or  Officers  as  he  should 
think  fit  to  appoint. 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          207 

That  when  the  said  Letters  Patent  were  granted,  ttye 
Lands  in  the  Place  now  called  New  York,  and  in  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  aforesaid,  were  partly  under 
the  Rule  and  Dominion  of  the  Dutch,  and  partly  under 
the  Possession  and  Government  of  the  Native  Indians, 
Proprietors  thereof. 

That  his  said  Royal  Highness,  James  Duke  of  York, 
by  his  Commission  under  his  Hand  and  Seal,  bearing 
Date  at  Whitehall  the  2d  Day  of  April,  in  the  six- 
teenth Year  of  the  Reign  of  his  said  late  Majesty  King 
Charles  the  2d,  constituted  and  appointed  Richard 
Nicholls,  Esq;  his  Deputy  Governor  within  the  Lands, 
Islands  and  Places  aforesaid,  to  perform  and  execute 
all  and  every  the  Powers  which  were,  by  the  said  Let- 
ters Patent,  granted  to  his  said  Royal  Highness,  to  be 
executed  by  his  Deputy,  Agents  or  Assigns. 

That  in  Consequence  of  the  said  Commission,  in  or 
about  the  Month  of  August,  1664,  the  said  Richard 
Nicholls,  Esq;  arriving  in  these  Parts,  demanded  the 
Dominion  and  Government  of  the  Lands  now  called  by 
the  Names  of  New-York  and  New-Jersey,  to  whom 
the  then  ruling  Dutch  surrendered  and  gave  up  the 
same. 

That  thereupon  John  Baylies,  Daniel  Denton, 
Thomas  Benydick,  Nathaniel  Denton,  John  Foster, 
and  Luke  Watson,  all  of  Long-Island,  who  had  been 
before  obstructed  in  their  Endeavours  to  settle  a  Plan- 
tation where  Elizabeth  Town  now  is,  by  the  then  rul- 
ing Dutch,  immediately  after  the  Arrival  of  said  Gov- 
ernor Nicholls,  and  his  taking  upon  him  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Lands  aforesaid,  to  wit.  On  the  26th  Day 
of  September  1664,  petitioned  to  the  said  Governor 
Nicholls,  setting  forth  their  former  Attempts  and 
Obstructions,  for  Liberty  to  purchase  of  the  Natives, 
Proprietors  of  those  Lands,  a  certain  Parcel  thereof, 
in  his  said  Royal  Highnesses  Territories,  lying  on  the 
River  then  called  Arthur  Cull  River,  to  improve  and 
settle  upon. 


208          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

That  on  the  30th  of  September,  aforesaid  in  answer 
to  said  Petition,  the  said  Governor  Nicholls  consented 
to  the  Proposals  therein  mane,  and  declared,  that  he 
would  give  the  Undertakers  all  due  Encouragement 
in  so  good  a  Work. 

That  thereupon  the  said  John  Baylies,  Daniel  Den- 
ton,  and  Luke  Watson,  for  themselves  and  their  Asso- 
ciates, for  the  Purpose  aforesaid,  and  in  pursuance  of 
said  License,  for  great  and  valuable  Considerations, 
did  purchase  of  and  from  certain  Indians,  chief  Sa- 
chems, then  allowed  Proprietors  of  those  Lands,  by 
their  Deed  bearing  Date  the  Twenty-eighth  Day  of 
October,  Anno  Dom.  1664;  a  certain  Tract  or  Parcel  of 
Land  lying  on  the  Main,  West  of  Staten-Island,  bound- 
ed on  the  South  by  the  River  commonly  called  the 
Raritan  River,  on  the  East  by  the  River  which  parts 
Staten-Island  and  the  Main,  and  to  run  Northward  up 
Arthur  Cull  Bay,  till  we  came  to  the  first  River  which 
sets  Westward  out  of  the  said  Bay,  and  to  run  West- 
ward into  the  Country  twice  the  Length  as  it  is  broad 
from  the  North  to  the  South,  of  the  aforementioned 
Bounds. 

That  on  the  first  Day  of  December,  Anno  Domini 
1664,  the  said  Governor  Nicholls,  by  his  Deed  of  that 
Date,  under  his  Hand  and  Seal,  therein  reciting  the 
aforesaid  Purchase,  did  give,  grant  and  confirm,  unto 
Capt.  John  Baker,  John  Ogden,  John  Baylies,  Luke 
Watson,  and  their  Associates,  their  Heirs,  Executors, 
Administrators  and  Assigns,  the  said  Tract  of  Land 
purchased  as  aforesaid,  to  the  End  the  same  might  be 
sooner  planted,  inhabited  and  manured;  therein  and 
thereby  also  promising  and  granting,  that  the  Persons 
inhabiting  said  Lands,  should  have  and  enjoy  equal 
Freedom,  Immunities  and  Privileges,  with  any  of  his 
Majesty's  Subjects,  in  any  of  his  Colonies  in  America. 

That  immediately  after  the  Purchase  and  Confirma- 
tion aforesaid,  the  said  John  Baker,  John  Ogden,  John 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          209 

Baylies,  and  Luke  Watson,  and  their  Associates,  your 
humble  Petitioners  Ancestors,  entred  upon,  planted, 
improved,  and  began  to  manure  that  Part  of  the  said 
Land  now  called  Elizabeth -Town;  and  they,  their 
Heirs  and  Assigns,  have  continued  in  the  Improve- 
ment and  Possession  of  great  Part  thereof;  and  with 
great  Cost,  Expence,  Hazard,  Toil  and  Labour,  have 
planted,  improved  and  manured,  much  of  the  Lands 
aforesaid,  for  the  Support  of  themselves  and  Families, 
who  are  now  increased  in  the  Bounds  of  Elizabeth- 
Town,  to  upwards  of  Seven  Hundred  Freeholders  and 
Families. 

That  altho'  his  said  Royal  Highness,  James  Duke  of 
York,  had  constituted,  deputed  and  appointed  the  said 
Richard  Nicholls,  Esq;  his  deputy  Governor  as  afore- 
said, with  the  Powers,  Authorities  and  Instructions 
aforesaid;  yet  while  the  said  Governor  Nicholls  was 
on  the  Seas,  and  before  the  Surrendry  of  the  said 
Lands,  and  the  Government  thereof  to  him,  as  Gov- 
ernor of  his  said  Royal  Highness,  and  without  any 
previous  Purchase,  made  of  the  native  Possessors  and 
Proprietors  of  said  Lands,  and  without  giving  any 
Notice  or  contrary  Instructions  to  said  Governor 
Nicholls,  the  said  Duke  of  York,  by  Indentures  of 
Lease  and  Release,  bearing  Date  the  23d  and  24th  Days 
of  June,  l(Jt>4,  did  convey  to  the  then  Lord  Berkley  and 
Sir  George  Carteret,  the  said  Province  of  New  Jersey, 
including  the  aforesaid  purchased  Land  as  part. 

That  thereupon  the  said  Lord  Berkley  and  Sir 
George  Carteret,  appointed  and  deputed  Phillip  Car- 
teret, Esq;  Governor  of  the  said  Province  of  New- 
Jersey,  and  sent  him  to  govern  and  rule  the  same 
under  them,  as  Proprietors  thereof  accordingly;  who 
on  his  Arrival  and  Settlement  in  the  Government  of 
the  said  Province,  was  so  far  from  insisting  on  the 
said  Lord  Berkley  and  Sir  George  Carteret's  Right  to 
the  Lands  purchased  by  your  humble  Petitioners 
15 


210          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

Ancestors,  in  Opposition  to  their  Title  obtained  by  the 
Purchase  and  Confirmation  aforesaid;  that  the  said 
Governor  Carteret,  by  Indenture,  bearing  Date  the  8th 
Day  of  September,  in  the  Seventeenth  Year  of  the 
Reign  of  his  Majesty  King  Charles  the  Second,  under 
the  Hand  and  Seal  of  the  said  John  Baylies,  purchased 
of  him  the  said  Baylies,  his  Right,  acquired  by  Virtue 
of  the  Purchase  and  Confirmation  aforesaid. 

And  thereupon  the  said  Governor  Carteret,  with 
John  Ogden  and  Luke  Watson,  by  Indenture  bearing 
Date  the  llth  Day  of  December,  1666,  claiming  and 
holding  under  the  said  Purchase  and  Confirmation 
obtained  by  the  said  John  Baylies  and  others,  sold  the 
Southern  Part  of  the  said  purchased  Lands  to  Daniel 
Peirce  and  his  Associates,  on  which  the  Towns  of 
Woodbridge  and  Amboy  are  now  settled. 

That  afterwards  the  Dutch  regained  Possession  of 
great  Part  of  these  Provinces;  and  on  the  Settlement 
of  Peace  between  the  Crown  of  England  and  the  States 
General,  they  surrendered  them  to  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land; and  thereupon  his  said  late  Majesty  King  Charles 
the  Second,  again  granted  to  his  said  Royal  Highness, 
the  said  Provinces  of  New-York,  New-Jersey,  &c.  by 
Letters  Patent  under  the  Great  Seal  of  England,  bear- 
ing Date  the  29th  Day  of  June,  in  the  26th  Year  of 
his  said  Majesty's  Reign;  and  his  said  Royal  Highness, 
on  the  28th  and  29th  Days  of  July  then  next  follow- 
ing, by  Indentures  of  Lease  and  Release,  granted  unto 
said  George  Carteret,  that  part  of  the  said  Province  of 
New-Jersey,  now  called  East-New-Jersey:  During  aH 
which  Time,  and  under  all  the  Troubles  and  Revolu- 
tions in  those  Provinces,  the  Ancestors  of  your  Maj- 
esty's Petitioners  held  and  continued  in  the  general 
Possession  of  their  said  purchased  Lands,  and  in  the 
particular  Improvement  and  Possession  of  great  parts 
thereof;  and  as  they  had  a  just  Right,  so  they  expected 
to  hold  and  enjoy  the  same  peaceably:  Yet  uotwith- 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         211 

standing,  about  the  Year  of  our  Lord  1693,  and  since, 
a  Number  of  Persons,  calling  themselves  Proprietors 
of  East-New-Jersey,  claiming  to  hold  by  mean  convey- 
ances under  the  said  George  Carteret;  and  many 
others  calling  themselves  Proprietors  of  West-New- 
Jersey,  claiming  to  hold  under  mean  Conveyances, 
under  the  said  Lord  Berkley;  claim  the  Lands  pur- 
chased by  your  Petitioners  Ancestors  aforesaid;  and 
pretend  that  neither  our  Ancestors  nor  we  their  Heirs 
and  Assigns,  have  any  Right  in  the  said  Purchase,  but 
what  is  derived  from  and  held  under  them.  By  Means 
whereof  many  Suits  in  Law  have  been  commenced, 
and  more  or  less  have  been  from  Time  to  Time  depend- 
ing about  the  said  purchased  Lands,  ever  since  the 
Year  1093;  in  many  of  which  your  Majesty's  Peti- 
tioners and  their  Ancestors  formerly  gained  Judgment 
in  their  Favours;  and  could  they  but  have  a  disinter- 
ested Court,  and  unprejudiced  Jury,  they  make  no 
doubt  but  they  should  always  obtain  Judgment  in 
their  Favour,  respecting  the  Lands  aforesaid. 

But  so  it  is,  that  all  the  Lands  in  the  said  Province 
of  New-Jersey,  are  held  and  claimed  under  the  said 
Lord  Berkley  and  Sir  George  Carteret's  Titles,  derived 
from  his  said  Royal  Highness,  except  the  said  Land 
purchased  by  the  said  Baylies,  Watson,  &c.  and  con- 
firmed to  them  as  aforesaid;  under  whom  your  Peti- 
tioners claim  and  hold;  and  thence  it  hath  come  to 
pass  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Province  are 
generally  interested  in,  and  affected  to  one  or  other  of 
the  said  two  original  Titles,  and  disaffected  to  the 
other. 

And  hath  also  so  happened,  that  as  the  far  greater 
Part  of  the  said  Province  is  held  under  the  said  pre- 
tended Proprietors;  so  the  ruling  and  governing  Part 
of  the  said  Province  is  in  their  Interest,  the  major  Part 
of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  Council,  being 
Proprietors  as  aforesaid,  or  Agents,  Attorneys  or 


212         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

Trustees  for  them,  or  some  of  them;  under  which  Cir- 
cumstances the  said  pretended  Proprietors  repeat  their 
Suits  against  your  Majesty's  Petitioners,  or  some  of 
them,  even  for  the  same  Farms,  if  they  happen  not  to 
be  successful  in  the  first  Suit,  and  threaten  to  pursue 
in  the  same  Method,  until  your  Majesty's  poor  Peti- 
tioners are  reduced  to  Poverty  and  Distress,  and  ren- 
dered unable  to  defend  their  just  Eights,  and  so  be 
obliged  to  surrender  those  Estates  which  they  and 
their  Ancestors  have  spent  their  Substance  and  Lives 
upon;  the  Loss  of  which,  would  prove  a  general  Ruin 
to  as  many  Families  as  make  up  seven  Protestant 
Congregations,  now  settled  on  said  purchased  Lands. 

That  your  Majesty's  poor  and  distressed  Petitioners, 
with  long  and  expensive  Law-suits  for  near  about 
fifty  Years  together,  in  which  they  have  spent  many 
Thousand  Pounds,  and  annually  are  obliged  to  be  at 
vast  Expence  in  Defence  of  their  said  Rights,  are  dis- 
couraged and  quite  wearied  out,  and  are  become  (as 
they  conceive)  under  the  present  Administration, 
remediless,  without  your  Majesty's  most  gracious 
Royal  Protection  and  Care. 

And  more  clearly  to  evince  the  Difficulties  and  Mat- 
ters above  suggested,  your  Majesty's  Petitioners  would 
most  humbly  beg  Leave  to  represent  and  numerate 
some  of  the  Steps  and  Proceedings  heretofore  taken, 
and  still  carrying  on  against  them,  tending  to  their 
Distress,  Loss  and  Ruin,  (viz.) 

That  formerly  the  said  pretended  Proprietors,  did 
take  upon  them  the  civil  Government  of  the  said  Pro- 
vince of  New-Jersey,  and  did  actually  erect  Courts, 
and  appoint  Officers  of  their  own,  before  whom  your 
Petitioners  Ancestors  were  sued,  and  by  them  un- 
justly condemned;  particularly,  in  a  Case  brought  by 
Lease  of  Ejectment  by  James  Fullerton,  claiming  by 
Demise  from  the  pretended  Proprietors  of  East-New- 
Jersey,  against  Jeffrey  Jones,  one  of  your  Petitioners 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION'  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          213 

Ancestors,  wherein  at  a  Court  held  at  Amboy,  the  1 4th 
of  May  1W5,  the  said  Court  unjustly  gave  Judgment 
in  favour  of  the  said  James  Fullerton;  on  which  Judg- 
ment, on  Appeal  of  the  said  Jones  to  the  King  in 
Council,  at  the  Court  of  Kensington,  25th  February 
1696,  by  his  Majesty  in  Council,  was  reversed  and  set 
aside;  and  as  your  Petitioners  said  Lands  are  all  under 
the  like  Circumstances,  and  held  by  the  same  Title,  so 
they  supposed  and  expected  the  Controversy  about  the 
same  would  have  ceased;  yet,  nevertheless,  the  said 
pretended  Proprietors,  by  the  Improvement  made  by 
your  petitioners  Ancestors  on  the  Premisses,  more 
than  any  Foundation  of  Right,  were  and  have  been 
further  tempted  to  molest,  trouble  and  invade  your 
Petitioners  Property  and  Possessions;  that  therefore, 
since  the  Government  of  said  Province  hath  been 
under  the  immediate  Care  of  the  Crown,  the  said  pre- 
tended Proprietors  many  of  them,  have  been  Members 
of  the  Council,  and  Judges  of  the  Courts  in  the  said 
Province;  and  by  this  Means  your  Petitioners  have 
been  prevented  from  bringing  or  removing  their  Cause 
before  the  King  in  Council,  in  the  common  Course  of 
Appeals. 

In  particular,  that  when  Joseph  Woodruff,  one  of 
Your  Majesty's  Petitioners  Ancestors,  by  Writ  of 
Error,  brought  his  Cause  before  the  Governor  and 
Council  of  this  Province,  in  the  Fourth  Year  of  the 
Reign  of  your  Majesty's  late  Royal  Father,  in  order  to 
obtain  a  Judgment  there;  and  from  thence,  if  Judg- 
ment was  given  against  him,  he  intended  to  have  ap- 
pealed to  his  said  Majesty  then  King  of  Great  Britain, 
&c.  in  Council;  the  said  Governor  and  Council  would 
never  be  prevailed  upon  to  give  a  Judgment  in  the 
s;>.iil  Cause;  but  after  about  Ten  or  Twelve  Years  De- 
lay, and  a  vast  Expense  in  the  Cause,  the  said  Case 
dropt  without  being  decided. 

The  present  Governor  of  the  said  Province  has  for- 


214         ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

merly  been  Agent  for  some  of  the  said  pretended  Pro- 
prietors, and  stands  in  a  near  Relation  to  several  of  the 
pretended  Proprietors  aforesaid;  the  present  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  said  Province  is  Trustee  and  Guardian  of  sev- 
eral Orphans  who  are  pretended  Proprietors  aforesaid; 
and  the  rest  of  the  Judges  and  Members  of  the  Coun- 
cil are  in  general  interested,  on  the  said  pretended 
Proprietors  Side. 

That  the  Juries  in  the  Counties  where  the  said  pur 
chased  Lands  lye,  are  generally  interested  and  engaged 
against  your  Petitioners;  and  the  more  effectually  to 
secure  all  in  Favour  of  the  said  pretended  Proprietors, 
the  Governor,  Council  and  General  Assemby  of  the 
said  Province,  have,  by  an  Act  passed  in  the  Fifteenth 
Year  of  your  Majesty's  Reign,  annexed  part  of  your 
Petitioners  Lands,  which  were  before  in  the  County  of 
Essex,  unto  the  County  of  Somerset,  where  the  Juries 
are  generally  in  the  said  Act,  representing  the  Inhabi- 
tants as  having  prayed  for  the  same;  which  your  Pe- 
titioners believe  to  be  a  great  Mistake. 

That  under  all  these  and  many  other  such  like  Dis- 
advantages, Writs  of  Trespass,  and  Leases  of  Eject- 
ment, in  behalf  said  pretended  Proprietors,  are  fre- 
quently commenced  against  some  of  your  Petitioners, 
and  thereon  Verdicts  and  Judgments  obtained;  some 
of  them  for  Six-pence  Damage,  and  for  Two  or  Three 
Hundred  Pounds  Proclamation  Money  Costs;  others 
of  your  Petitioners  are  turned  out  of  their  Freeholds 
and  Living,  and  large  Bills  of  Costs  taxed  against 
them. 

By  Means  whereof  many  of  your  Majesty's  poor 
Petitioners  are  grieviously  distressed,  and  others  are 
daily  threatened  with  the  same  Fate,  and  are  daily 
under  Expectation  of  being  burthened  with  heavy 
Costs,  great  pretended  Damage,  and  Loss  of  their 
Possessions  and  Inhabitants;  which  your  Petitioners 
are  advised,  they  do  not  suffer  for  Want  of  Justice; 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS,          215 

and  your  Majesty's  Petitioners  are  advised,  that  it's 
neither  legal,  equitable  ner  just,  that  the  Titles  to  their 
said  Lands  should  be  tryed  by  the  Judges,  Jury  and 
Courts  of  the  said  Province,  in  Regard  they  are  Parties 
in  Interest  more  or  less  in  the  Matters  in  Controversy, 
and  ought  not  to  hold  Plea  of  your  Petitioners  said 
Lands. 

WHEREFORE,  Your  Majesty's  Petitioners  most  hum- 
bly implore  your  Majesty,  the  Fountain  of  Justice, 
that  you  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  take  them  and 
their  said  Cause  under  your  Majesty's  Royal  Care  and 
Protection;  and  as  there  is  no  Prospect  that  your  dis- 
tressed Petitioners  can  find  any  Remedy  of  their  Griev- 
ances in  this  your  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jersey 
that  your  Majesty  in  your  most  Honourable  Privy 
Council,  would  be  pleased  to  hear  and  determine  their 
said  Controversy;  or,  that  your  Majesty  would  be 
pleased  to  appoint  disinterested  Commissioners  out  of 
some  of  the  Neighbouring  Colonies,  and  by  a  Jury 
from  thence  also  to  be  taken,  to  hear  and  finally  decide 
the  said  Cause;  or,  that  your  Majesty  would  be  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  appoint  Commissioners  to  hear,  and 
enquire  into,  and  determine  said  Controversy,  or 
otherwise  order  for  your  Majesty's  loyal,  dutiful,  poor, 
oppressed  Petitioners  Relief,  as  to  your  Majesty,  in 
your  princely  Wisdom  and  abundant  Goodness,  shall 
seem  meet, 

And  Your  Majesty's  Most  Humble  Petitioners, 
as  in  Duty  bound,  shall  ever  pi-ay,  &c. 

[July,  1744] 

[Three  hundred  and  nine  names  were  appended 
which  can  be  found  in  papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  Histor- 
ical Society  Library— Elizabeth-town  Papers,  Bundle 
L,  No.  9.] 


216          ADMINISTRATION  T>F  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 


Memorial  of  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors  to  Gover- 
nor Morris — asking  for  the  passage  of  an  Act  for 
running  the  Division  Line  exparte. 

[From  Papers  of  Ferdnand  J.  Paris,  Book  A,,  p.  137,  in  the  New  Jersey  Hist.   Soc. 

Library.] 

To  HIS  EXCELLENCY  LEWIS  MORRIS  ESQF  Cap- 
tain General  and  Governor  in  chief  of  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  and  Territories 
thereon  Depending  in  America  and  Vice 
admiral  in  the  Same. 

The  memorial  of  the  Council  of  General  pro- 
prietors of  the  Eastern  Division  of  New 
Jersey. 

Humbly  Sheweth 

That  by  an  Act  of  Governor  Council  and  Assembly 
of  the  Province  of  New  York  pass'd  in  the  year  1717 
the  Governor  thereof  was  itnpowered  to  appoint  Com- 
missioners in  behalf  of  that  province  to  Join  with  such 
Commissioners  as  Should  be  appointed  in  behalf  of 
the  province  of  New  Jersey  for  Runing  and  Ascertain- 
ing the  Line  of  partition  and  division  between  the 
Said  Two  provinces;  and  a  Sum  of  money  was  by  the 
Said  Act  appropriated  for  that  purpose. 

That  Soon  afterwards  another  Act  was  pass'd  by 
the  Governor  Council  and  Assembly  of  New  Jersey 
impowering  the  Appointment  of  Commissioners  for 
the  Eastern  and  Western  Divisions  of  the  Province  of 
New  Jersey  to  meet  with  the  Commissioners  to  be  ap- 
pointed for  the  province  of  New  York  to  Execute  the 
purpose  aforesaid. 

That  in  the  year  1719,  Commissioners  having  been 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          21? 

Appointed  in  pursuance  of  both  the  Said  Acts:  they 
met,  and  Unanimously  Settled  the  Latitude  of  41°;  40' 
upon  the  Northernmost  Branch  of  Delaware,  which  is 
the  North  end  of  the  Partition  Lane  between  the  Said 
provinces:  and  Executed  Indentures  Tripartite  under 
their  hands  and  Seals  for  Commemorating  the  Said 
North  partition  point:  which  North  partition  point,  is 
also  the  partition  point  between  the  Eastern  and 
Western  Divisions  of  New  Jersey;  and  So  the  Said 
Western  Division  had  no  further  interest  nor  concern 
in  or  about  the  Said  line;  As  by  one  part  of  the  Said 
Indentures  here  Ready  to  be  produced  to  your  Excel- 
lency may  appeare. 

That  afterwards  in  the  Said  year  1719  by  order  of 
the  Said  Commissioners  a  Line  was  run  and  Mark'd 
from  the  Said  North  partition  point  to  Hudson's  River, 
towards  the  place  where  they  Esteemed  the  Latitude 
of  41°  would  be  found  upon  it,  which  Latitude  on  the 
East  Side  of  the  Said  River  is  the  South  End  of 
the  partition  Line  between  the  Said  Provinces,  and 
Sundry  Obsevations  were  taken  upon  Hudson's  River 
for  discovering  the  Said  Latitude  of  41°  there,  but  the 
Commissioners  Concerned  did  not  then  nor  ever  Since 
meet  to  agree  thereon. 

That  The  Commissioners  and  Proprietors  of  the  East 
era  Division  of  New  Jersey  afterwards  used  many  and 
frequent  Amicable  endeavours  with  the  Commission- 
ers for  New  York,  and  with  the  New  York  proprietors 
of  the  Lands  adjoining  to  the  Said  partition  Line  for 
Ascertaining  the  South  partition  point  aforesaid  upon 
Hudson's  River  and  for  Runiug  the  Line  from  thence 
to  the  North  partition  point  aforesaid,  but  all  those 
Endeavours  proved  ineffectual. 

That  in  September  1741  Committees,  appointed  by 
the  Two  Councils  of  proprietors  of  the  Eastern  and 
Western  Division  of  New  Jersey,  met  and  laid  before 
your  Excellency  a  Representation  of  the  Greivances 


218          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1744 

and  hardships  that  the  people  and  proprietors  of  the 
province  of  New  Jersey  laboured  under  for  want  of  the 
Said  Line  of  Partition  being  Settled,  and  praying  your 
Excellency's  interest  and  Assistance  for  procuring  the 
Said  Line  to  be  Settled,  and  for  putting  a  Stop  to  the 
Grievances  Suffered  for  want  thereof. 

That  in  July  1742,  Your  Memorialists  laid  another 
Representation  before  your  Excellency  to  the  purpose 
of  the  former,  praying  your  Excellency  to  take  Such 
Effectuall  measures  as  you  Should  think  proper  that 
the  Settlement  of  the  Said  Line  might  be  brought  to  a 
Speedy  Conclusion. 

That  we  are  fully  Satisfied  that  your  Excellency 
used  your  Best  Endeavours  with  the  honorable  George 
Clark  Esq.!"  Lieutenant  Governor  and  late  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  New  York  to  have  our 
Bequests  aforesaid  put  in  Execution,  and  are  Sorry 
that  those  Endeavours  had  not  the  Success  that  we 
had  reason  to  hope  for  from  them. 

That  in  October  1743  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Province 
living  near  the  Said  partition  Line  by  Abraham  Van- 
aken  and  Jurian  Westphale  petitioned  your  Excellen- 
cy and  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province  for 
Relief  against  the  Grievances  by  them  Suffered  for 
want  of  the  Said  Line  of  Partition  being  run;  And 
we  are  fully  Satisfied  that  your  Excellency  in  that 
Same  Month  of  October  Sent  Coppies  of  the  Two 
Memorials  aforesaid  and  of  the  Said  petition  to  his 
Excellency  George  Clinton  Esqr  Captain  General  & 
Governor  in  chief  of  the  province  of  New  York,  and 
used  your  Endeavours  with  him  for  the  Settlement  of 
the  Said  Partition  Line;  but  Notwithstanding  the  Sev- 
eral Endeavours  aforesaid,  and  other  private  Endeav- 
ours by  Some  of  us  with  the  New  York  Proprietors  of 
the  Lands  adjoining  to  the  Said  Line,  we  are  under 
great  Concern  to  Say  that  we  have  little-  hopes  left  of 
obtaining  the  Settlement  of  the  Said  Line,  otherways 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS   MORRIS.          219 

than  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
province  to  be  approved^ of  by  his  Majesty  for  riming 
the  Same  Line  exparte. 

Your  memorialists  therefore  humbly  pray  your 
Excellency  would  be  pleased  to  Recommend  it  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  this  Province,  which  is  to  meet 
at  Burlington  in  October  next,  to  pass  an  Act  for  Run- 
ing  the  Said  Lane  exparte:  and  if  the  Same  Should  be 
so  pass'd,  that  your  Excellency  would  be  pleased  to 
to  Recommend  it  for  his  Majesties  Royall  Aprobation: 
and  that  in  the  mean  time  your  Excellency  would  be 
pleased  to  order  Such  notice  of  this  intention  to  be 
Given  to  the  Governor  of  New  York  as  you  shall  think 
proper. 

And  your  memorialists  Shall  ever  pray  &c. 

By  order  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  East  Jersey 

Perth  Amboy  Sepr  7^  1744  JOHN  HAMILTON. 


Representation  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey  to  Gov- 
ernor Morris — containing  reasons  for  rejecting 
several  acts,  &c. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F  89.  i 

To  His  Excellency  Lewis  Morris,  Esq; 
Captain  General,  and  Governor  in  Chief,  in  and 
over  His  Majesty's  Province  of  New-Jer- 
sey, and  Territories  thereon  depending  in 
America,  and  Vice-Admiral  in  the  same, 
&c. 
The  humble  Representation  of  His  Majesty's 

Council  in  General  Assembly  met. 
Sir 

Having  considered  the  Votes  and  Resolutions  of  the 
House  of  Assembly  of  the22d  of  November  last,  which 


220          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

your  Excellency  was  pleased  so  early  to  communicate 
to  us;  we  thought  ourselves  obliged,  by  the  Duty  of 
our  Station,  to  enter  into  some  Resolves,  thereby  to 
assert  the  Royal  Prerogative,  which  we  conceived  in 
some  Measure  attacked;  and  to  maintain  the  Rights 
and  Privileges  of  His  Majesty's  Council,  which  we 
looked  upon,  by  those  Votes,  to  be  not  only  ques- 
tioned, but  greatly  infringed:  And  as  the  Conduct  and 
Characters  of  the  Members  of  our  House  are  by  them 
so  openly  (tho'  unjustly)  aspersed,  we  think  it  incum- 
bent on  us  to  clear  up  both  to  His  Majesty,  to  whom 
alone  we  look  upon  ourselves  to  be  accountable,  by 
assigning  the  Reasons  of  our  Conduct,  so  loudly  com- 
plained of  this  Sessions;  and  we  doubt  not  His  Majesty, 
and  His  Ministers,  will  very  readily  discover  the  Injus- 
tice and  Unreasonableness  of  the  Complaints  and 
Aspersions  contained  in  those  extraordinary  Votes, 
which  were  founded  on  the  Council's  having  rejected 
some  Bills  sent  up  to  them  by  the  House  of  Assembly 
this  Sessions,  which  they  are  pleased  to  say  are  essen- 
tially necessary  for  the  Benefit  and  Well-being  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Colony;  but  as  the  Council  differed 
in  Opinion  with  them  concerning  the  Nature  and 
Tendency  of  most  of  those  Bills,  we  come  now  to 
declare  what  the  genuine  Reasons  were  for  rejecting 
of  them;  and,  for  Brevity's  sake,  shall  transiently 
point  out  some  Instances,  wherein  we  conceive  the 
Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  have  unhappily  mistaken, 
at  this  time,  the  true  Interest  of  His  Majesty,  the 
Security  and  Defence  of  this  His  Colony,  and  the  real 
Well-being  of  His  People,  whom  they  now  represent. 
The  first  Bill  rejected  by  the  Council,  was  a  Bill 
intituled,  An  Act  to  oblige  the  several  Sheriffs  of  this 
Colony  to  give  Security,  &c.  This  Bill,  in  the  year 
1738  (when  the  first  Sessions  of  General  Assembly  was 
held  under  your  Excellency's  Administration)  took  its 
Rise  in  the  Council,  was  drawn  by  one  of  their  Mem- 


1  ;  1  -4  ]     A  DM  I  XISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         221 

bere,  and  cost  the  Publick  no  Treasure,  nor  the  Assem- 
bly any  Pains;  nor  did  the  Drawing  of  it  occasion  any 
Delay  in  the  Business  then  before  the  Council,  and  was 
sent  down  to  the  House  of  Assembly  for  their  Concur- 
rence. The  Assembly  then  did,  and  ever  since  have 
added  a  Clause,  whereby  no  Sheriff  was  to  continue  in 
that  Office  longer  than  three  years,  and  was  not  to  be 
admitted  into  that  Office  again  in  less  than  three  years 
after  his  Removal.  To  this  Amendment  of  the  Bill 
the  Council  could  not  agree,  1.  Because  then  every 
good  Sheriff  in  the  Province  must  be  removed  from  an 
Office,  which,  when  well  filled,  must  be  of  great  Bene- 
fit and  Security  to  the  People.  2.  Because,  if  that 
must  be  the  Situation  of  Sheriffs,  no  Man  of  Substance 
or  Employment,  by  which  he  could  tolerably  maintain 
himself  or  Family,  would  accept  of  the  Office;  and  to 
trust  necessitous  Men  would  be  imprudent,  since  their 
Poverty  might  tempt  them  to  do  many  Things  that 
might  be  oppressive  and  dangerous  to  the  People.  3. 
Because,  by  that  Means,  scarce  one  Sheriff  in  ten  could 
be  supposed  to  be  acquainted  with  either  his  County, 
or  the  Duties  of  his  Station. 

Had  the  Council  amended  the  Bill,  by  taking  away 
that  Clause,  they  had  abundant  Reason  to  believe,  that 
they  might  as  well  reject  the  Bill  itself,  since  many  of 
the  Members  of  the  present  Assembly,  when  Members 
of  former  Assemblies,  have  more  than  once  declared, 
as  well  at  Conferences,  as  at  other  Times,  that  they 
never  would  pass  the  Bill  without  that  Clause;  what 
secret  Reasons  they  may  have  for  such  a  Resolution,  are 
best  known  to  themselves,  but  they  never  yet  have 
offered  any  that  could  convince  the  Council  of  the 
Necessity  or  Conveniency  of  such  a  Clause,  nor  any 
but  what  the  Council  conceive  they  have  sufficiently 
answered  and  confuted;  and,  what  is  more,  have  pro- 
posed  other  Methods  more  expedient,  and  more 
effectual  for  the  Ends  proposed  by  it;  but  all  to  no 


222          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

Purpose;  that  Clause  must  take  Place,  or  the  Bill  must 
be  lost.  Thus  this  has  been  the  unhappy  Rock  on 
which  that  Bill,  so  full  freighted  with  many  Advan- 
tages and  Benefits  to  the  People,  has  so  often  split. 

The  next  Bill  rejected  by  the  Council,  was,  A  Bill 
for  laying  a  Duty  on  Indian,  Negroe  and  Molatto 
Slaves,  imported  into  this  Colony. 

This  Bill  the  Council  considered  abstractedly  from 
any  Instructions  your  Excellency  has  in  relation  to 
the  African  Company,  which  many  of  the  Gentlemen 
of  the  Assembly  we  suppose  are  not  unacquainted 
with,  and  only  weighed  the  Advantages  and  Disad- 
vantages that  would  arise  to  the  People  of  this  Colony 
upon  that  Bill's  passing  into  a  Law.  By  that  Bill  was 
plainly  intended  an  intire  Prohibition  of  all  Slaves 
being  imported  from  foreign  Parts,  no  less  than  a 
Duty  of  Ten  Pounds  being  imposed  on  all  grown  Slaves 
imported  from  the  West-Indies,  and  Five  Pounds  on 
all  those  directly  imported  from  Africa.  Upon  the 
most  mature  Consideration  the  Council  were  of 
Opinion,  that  if  that  Bill,  or  any  other  Bill,  discour- 
aging the  Importation  of  Slaves,  should  at  this  time 
pass  into  a  Law,  the  People  of  this  Province  in  general 
(a  few  Labourers  only  excepted)  and  the  Farmers  in 
particular,  would  be  great  Sufferers  by  it,  and  that  for 
the  following  Reasons. 

1.  It  is  well  known,  that  a  great  Number  of  Labour- 
ers went  out  of  this  Province  on  the  late  Expedition 
to  the  West-Indies,  and  that  ve>ry  few  of  them  have 
returned;  That  many,  for  some  Time  past,  have  been 
going,  and  still  are  going,  on  the  Privateering  Account; 
by  which  Means  Labourers  Wages  are  become  very 
high,  and  the  Farmers,  Trading-Men  and  Tradesmen, 
are  greatly  straitened  for  want  of  Labourers  to  carry 
on  their  Business. 

2.  It  is  also  well  known,  that  since  the  Manufacture 
of  Liiinens  has  arrived  to  any  tolerable  Perfection  in 


1^44]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          223 

Ireland,  we  have  had  very  few  Servants  or  Labourers 
from  that  Island,  and  have  no  Reason  to  expect  many 
for  the  Time  to  come. 

8.  The  present  War  throughout  the  German  Domin- 
ions, and  between  almost  all  the  Powers  on  the  Conti- 
nent of  Europe,  gives  us  Reason  to  expect  no  Assist- 
ance from  that  Quarter.  And  as  our  Sovereign  is 
deeply  engaged  in  a  War  with  many  powerful  Princes, 
we  have  as  little  Reason  to  expect  any  Number  of 
Servants  from  the  Island  of  Great- Britain.  Where 
fore  we  conceive,  that  it  would  be  more  for  the  Interest 
of  the  People  of  this  Colony  to  encourage  at  this  Time 
the  Importation  of  Slaves,  than  by  a  Law  to  prohibit 
them  altogether,  and  therefore  we  rejected  that  Bill. 

The  third  Bill  rejected  by  the  Council,  was,  A  Bill 
for  making  current  Forty  Thousand  Pounds  in  Bills 
of  Credit.  The  Preamble  to  this  Bill  was  specious 
indeed,  by  which  the  House  of  Assembly  no  doubt 
designed  to  persuade  the  Council,  that  they  intended 
to  apply  Part  of  the  Money  towards  building  a  House 
for  the  Governor  to  live  in,  another  for  the  Council 
and  Assembly  to  sit  in,  with  proper  Offices  for  the 
Secretary,  and  for  preserving  the  Records  of  the  Prov- 
ince; but  as  the  Actions,  not  the  Expressions,  of  Men, 
are  the  truest  Touchstone,  by  which  their  Sincerity  is 
to  be  discovered,  so  enacting  Clauses,  and  not  Pream- 
bles, must  declare  the  Intention  of,  and  give  Force  to, 
Laws.  Indeed  in  the  Acts  of  Parliament  of  Great- 
Britain  where  the  Legislative  Body  is  above  mean 
Arts  and  low  Subterfuges  in  the  grand  and  solemn 
Affair  of  making  Laws,  we  find  the  Preambles  plain 
and  honest  Declarations  of  the  Necessity,  Conveniency 
and  Design,  of  them,  and  excellent  Introductions  to 
the  right  understanding  of  them.  But  as  by  no  one 
Clause  of  that  Bill  any  Provision  was  made,  nor  any 
Money  appropriated  to  the  carrying  on  and  completing 
those  Buildings,  which  every  Body  here  must  own  are 


224:          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

very  necessary;  so  we  could  not  look  upon  that  Pre- 
amble but  as  a  mere  artful,  tho"  unskilful  Pretence, 
by  which  that  Bill  was  to  be  ushered  into  the  World, 
in  order  to  receive  the  Sanction  of  a  Law. 

By  a  Clause  in  that  Bill  indeed  Provision  was  made 
for  purchasing  a  thousand  Arms,  with  Bayonets  fitted 
thereto,  Twenty-five  Barrels  of  Powder,  and  five  Tons 
of  Lead,  for  the  Use  of  the  Province;  but  as  the  Addi- 
tion of  a  few  Arms  and  Ammunition,  when  put  into 
the  Hands  of  unskilful  Men,  would  contribute  very 
little  towards  the  Security  of  the  People;  and  as  there 
was  no  Hopes  of  obtaining  from  the  present  House  of 
Assembly  an  Act  any  ways  effectual  for  the  necessary 
Regulation  of  the  Militia  of  this  Colony,  the  Council 
was  well  assured,  that  the  People,  by  the  Method  pro- 
posed, would  purchase  those  Stores  at  much  too  dear 
a  Rate. 

If  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly  thought  those 
Arms  and  Ammunition  absolutely  necessary  for  the 
Security  and  Defence  of  their  Country;  and  si  nee  they 
complain  so  loudly  in  their  Votes  and  Resolves,  of  the 
Disappointment  occasioned  by  the  Council's  rejecting 
the  Bill  whereby  such  Provision  was  made;  why  have 
they  not  applied  Part  of  the  Money,  now  lying  dead 
in  the  Treasury,  to  that  Purpose?  But  no,  that  would 
not  serve  the  Turn,  that  would  not  procure  the  Forty 
Thousand  Pounds.  Besides,  the  House  of  Assembly 
ought  to  be  more  frugal  of  their  Money  than  that 
comes  to;  they  cannot  part  with  that  choice  Treasure 
at  so  cheap  a  Rate,  as  the  preserving  of  the  Lives,  Lib 
erties  and  Fortunes,  of  their  Countrymen;  They  must 
keep  that  for  the  Use  of  His  Majesty,  when  on  any 
Emergency  he  shall  stand  in  need  of  it;  It  is  not  to  be 
thrown  away  upon  the  Support  of  His  Government, 
on  the  Defence  of  His  Colony,  and  of  His  faithful  and 
loyal  People  of  New  Jersey.  Is  this  a  well  timed  Fru- 
gality? Can  any  Pretence  of  assisting  His  Majesty  be 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          225 

urged  as  a  reasonable  Excuse  for  not  supporting  His 
Government,  or  for  not  applying  the  publick  Money  for 
the  Preservation  of  His  Colony,  and  of  His  Subjects 
here?  Surely  not;  yet  such  has  been  the  Pretence,  the 
Excuse  and  Conduct,  of  the  present  Assembly. 

By  the  Body  of  this  Bill  it  Plainly  appeared,  that  the 
Assembly  designed  to  go  on  with  raising  of  Money  for 
the  publick  Use  in  the  usual  Way  by  the  Loans  of 
Bills  of  Credit;  a  Method,  as  we  conceive,  unequal  and 
unreasonable,  and  fatal  to  the  People  in  general,  and 
to  the  Merchant  and  Trader  in  particular,  in  all  its  Con- 
sequences; which  will  clearly  appear  from  the  follow- 
ing Considerations. 

1.  By  this  Method  the  Rich,  who  ought  to  contribute 
most  towards  the  publick  Expence,  do  not  contribute 
one  Farthing  towards  it. 

2.  The  Distressed,  and  People  involved  in  Debt,  are 
the  Chief,  if  not  the  only  Persons,  who  by  this  Method 
bear  the  Burden  of  that  Expence;  and  tho'  it  may  be 
said,  that  it  is  an  Act  of  their  own  Choice,  and  that 
they  are  no  ways  compelled  so  to  do,  by  Experience,  it 
is  well  known,  that  such  a  Method  of  letting  out 
Money  by  the  Publick  is  a  great  Temptation  to  unthink- 
ing People,  who,  in  order  to  extricate  themselves  out 
of  some  present  Difficulties,  have  plunged  themselves 
into  much  greater,  out  of  which  neither  they,  nor  per- 
haps their  Children,  will  be  able  to  recover;  these,  and 
these  chiefly,  are  the  People  who  called  so  loudly  for 
fresh  Supplies,  and  should  their  Desires  be  gratified, 
we  have  great  Reason  to  apprehend,  that  still  greater 
Numbers  would  fall  into  the  same  unhappy  Circum- 
stances, and  therefore  think  it  high  time  to  put  a  stop 
to  so  growing  an  Evil. 

3.  The  fluctuating  Nature  of  a  Paper  Currency  lays 
the  Merchant  and  Trader  under  very  great  Disadvan- 
tage; for  after  they  have  sold  their  Goods  at  a  mod- 
erate Advantage  (for  which  it  is  generally  two  Years 

16 


226         ADMINISTRATION  (XF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

after  they  receive  their  Pay)  they  are  always  Losers  in 
Proportion  to  the  sinking  Credit  of  such  a  Currency, 
and  that  Credit  is  ever  lowest  when  great  Sums  of  the 
like  Currency  are  issued;  and  it  is  plain  and  obvious  to 
every  Man  that  knows  any  thing  of  Trade,  that  Gold 
and  Silver  have  all  along  continued  to  rise  in  Value 
ever  since  a  Paper  Currency  first  took  Place;  in  Con- 
sequence of  which,  the  Exchange  between  this  and 
Great  Britain  has  risen  to  a  very  great  Heigh th,  and 
should  the  Method  be  continued  of  emitting  such  large 
Sums  of  Bills  of  Credit,  which,  to  the  Body  Politick, 
is  like  cold  Water  to  a  Man  in  a  high  Fever,  the  more 
is  given  still  the  more  is  called  for,  Trade  (without 
which  we  cannot  well  subsist)  would  be  undone,  the  Mer- 
chant ruined,  and  the  People  in  general  brought  into 
great  Distress.  Besides,  should  the  Bill,  now  depend- 
ing in  Parliament,  which  has  been  communicated  to 
the  House  of  Assembly  as  well  as  to  this  House,  pass 
into  a  Law,  which  we  have  great  Reason  to  expect,  if 
any  Judgment  may  be  formed  from  His  Majesty's  late 
Instructions  to  His  Governor,  or  the  strict  Enquiry 
that  has  been  made  by  both  Houses  of  Parliament  into 
the  Nature  and  Circumstances  of  such  a  Currency,  the 
opinion  of  the  Lords  of  Trade  upon  that  Head,  and  the 
Credit  of  the  Gentlemen  who  brought  that  Bill  into 
the  House  of  Commons,  it  would  effectually  prevent  the 
Bills  of  Credit,  now  proposed  to  be  struck,  being  a 
Tender  in  any  Payment:  Wherefore,  it  would  have 
been  a  great  Damage  to  the  People  of  this  Province 
should  the  Bill  proposed  have  passed  into  a  Law;  and 
therefore  we  thought  it  our  Duty  to  reject  it. 

The  next  Bill  rejected  by  the  Council,  was,  a  Bill  to 
repeal  Part  of  an  Act  made  for  the  Preservation  of 
Timber  in  the  Eastern  Division  of  this  Colony,  and 
passed  the  second  of  December,  1T43,  but  was  not  to 
be  in  Force  till  some  Time  in  July  last  past;  which 
not  exceeding  three  or  four  Months  at  most,  the  Council 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          22? 

were  of  Opinion,  that  no.  tolerable  Judgment  could  be 
formed  from  any  Experience  that  could  be  had  in  so 
short  a  Time,  of  the  good  or  bad  Effects  of  such  a  Law: 
Besides,  the  Repeal  being  intended  only  for  the  Coun- 
ty of  Essex,  the  Council  were  of  Opinion,  that  as  the 
greatest  Body  of  Timber  is  to  be  found  in  the  Coun- 
ties adjoining  to  the  County  of  Essex,  so  it* would  be  no 
difficult  Matter  to  carry  the  Timber  from  those  Coun- 
ties into  the  County  of  Essex,  from  whence  it  might 
be  transported;  therefore,  if  that  Bill  had  taken  Place, 
it  had  in  Effect,  repealed  the  whole  Law,  for  which 
Reasons  the  Council  rejected  that  Bill. 

These  are  all  the  Bills  that  have  been  rejected  by  the 
Council  at  this  Time. 

As  to  the  Bill  to  prevent  Actions  under  Fifteen 
Pounds  being  brought  into  the  Supream  Court,  that 
was  amended  by  the  Council,  and  made  the  same  as 
the  Law  now  stands  (excepting  only  in  the  Case  of 
double  Costs  upon  Writts  of  Error)  which  Law  the 
House  of  Assembly,  in  the  Preamble  to  their  Bill,  do 
say,  is  found  by  Experience,  to  be  of  great  Benefit  to 
the  People;  if  so,  how  the  People  came  to  be  deprived 
of  that  Benefit,  will  appear  by  the  Votes  of  their  House, 
where  it  will  be  found,  that  the  Bill  not  only  dropped 
with  them,  but  that  the  Majority  of  that  House  were 
against  conferring  with  the  Council  upon  it. 

The  Council  cannot  in  SDence  pass  over  at  this  Time, 
the  su rprizing  Conduct  of  the  House  of  Assembly  in 
relation  to  the  Militia  Bill.  The  People  of  this  Colony 
are  not  at  present  in  a  Condition  or  Capacity  of 
building  such  Fortifications  as  would  prevent  an  Ene- 
my from  landing  on  their  Coasts,  and  have  no  other 
Way  of  defending  themselves  than  by  a  well  regulated 
Militia;  yet  such  has  been  the  Conduct  of  the  House  of 
Assembly  at  this  Time,  that  they  have  denied  the  Peo- 
ple the  only  Means  in  their  Power  of  preserving  them- 
selves, their  Wives,  their  Children,  and  their  Fortunes, 
from  becoming  an  easy  Prey  to  the  first  Invader. 


228          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

That  the  Law  for  the  better  -Regulation  of  the  Mili- 
tia of  this  Province  at  this  Time  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary, stands  confessed  by  the  Title  and  Preamble  to 
their  own  Bill  sent  up  this  Sessions  to  the  Council: 
Yet  notwithstanding,  whoever  will  consider  the  Bill 
itself,  and  compare  it  with  the  Law  now  in  being, 
must  confess,  that  the  latter,  lame  as  it  is,  is  much 
more  effectual  for  that  Purpose. — It  is  very  possible 
there  may  be  some  Defects  in  the  Amendments  made 
by  the  Council  to  their  Bill;  if  they  have  discovered 
any,  was  it  not  their  Business,  their  indispensable 
Duty,  to  supply  those  Defects,  and  to  do  every  thing 
in  their  Power  to  make  the  Bill  effectual?  Is  not  this 
the  usual,  the  only  Method,  whereby  all  Bills  are 
brought  to  Perfection?  Can  that  House  any  ways  ex- 
cuse themselves  for  not  pursuing  that  Method  in  an 
Affair  of  that  Importance,  that  concerns  no  less  than 
the  Lives,  Liberties  and  Fortunes,  of  their  Country- 
men, nay,  and  their  Religion  too?  Is  not  this  the 
grand  Affair,  the  chief  Thing  needful  at  this  Time, 
upon  which  they  have  so  often  been  called  together, 
and  which  the  House  of  Assembly  are  under  solemn 
Engagements  and  publick  Promises  to  go  through  with 
and  compleat?  Instead  of  which  that  House  have  dis- 
agreed to  the  Alterations  made  by  the  Council  to  that 
Bill,  and  have  even  declin'd  having  any  Consultation 
or  Conference  with  the  Council  upon  it,  And,  on  the 
other  hand,  which  is  a  very  extraordinary  Step,  and 
without  any  Precedent  but  their  own,  and,  as  we  con- 
ceive, unparliamentary,  they  have  ordered  the  amend- 
ments made  by  the  Council  to  be  printed,  in  order  to 
expose  whatever  Defects  may  appear  in  these  Amend- 
ments, and  to  have  it  once  more  in  their  power  to  im- 
pose on  the  weak  minds  of  those  well  meaning  People, 
who  have  been  so  unhappy  as  to  choose  such  Men  to  be 
their  Representatives. 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWI*  MORRIS. 

But  tho'  this  Step,  taken  by  the  Assembly,  is  wrong, 
and  unworthy  the  Dignity  of  a  House  of  Assembly, 
yet  it  gives  us  this  Satisfaction,  that  thereby  they 
plainly  discover  their  own  designs,  and  as  plainly 
prove  to  every  Man  that  has  common  Sense  enough  to 
know  what  his  real  Interest  and  Security  in  this  case 
is,  that  the  Council  have  been  the  true  Patrons  and 
Friends  of  the  People  on  this  Occasion.  Some  People, 
perhaps,  may  imagine,  that  by  the  Method  proposed 
by  the  Council,  the  Militia  would  be  put  under  a 
stricter  Discipline  than  is  necessary,  and  that  it  would 
occasion  a  needless  Expence  to  the  People,  by  forming 
one  Troop  of  Horse  out  of  eveiy  Regiment;  but  if  such 
People  would  consider,  that  unless  a  Militia  be  well 
disciplined,  and  under  good  Regulation,  they  never, 
will  be  able  to  make  any  tolerable  defence;  and  as  our 
Sea-coast,  as  well  as  the  Land  on  the  Back  of  us,  is 
very  extensive,  and  as  we  cannot  know  what  Part  of 
it  an  Enemy  may  enter  or  land  at,  every  Man,  that 
knows  any  thing,  must  know,  that  Troops  of  Horse 
are  absolutely  necessary  on  such  an  Occasion,  who,  by 
being  able  to  march  much  faster  than  Foot  Companies 
can,  may  oppose  and  distress  the  Enemy  till  the  Foot 
Companies  can  be  brought  up  to  their  Assistance,  by 
which  Means  many  hundred  Families  in  such  a  Part 
of  the  Province  may  be  preserved  from  Ruin.  Since 
then  no  one  can  tell  where  the  first  Blow  may  be 
struck;  since  Troops  of  Horse  are  most  fit  to  hinder 
the  Progress  of  an  Enemy;  since  it  is  for  the  Peoples 
own  sakes  that  such  are  proposed;  since  such  a  disci- 
pline can  only  be  designed  for  the  Preservation  of  the 
People,  their  Liberties  and  Estates,  and  was  to  be  at  an 
End  as  soon  as  Peace  is  proclaimed;  and  since  these  are 
the  only  Means  in  our  Power  for  our  defence,  such 
Troops,  and  such  a  Discipline,  must  be  looked  upon  as 
absolutely  necessary  at  this  Time. 


230         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1744 

Upon  the  whole,  we  beg  Leave  to  observe  to  your 
Excellency,  that  as  we  have  throughout  this  Repre- 
sentation preserved  an  honest  Sincerity,  and  the 
strictest  Truth,  of  which,  from  your  own  Knowledge 
of  Things,  and  of  our  past  Conduct,  we  persuade  our- 
selves your  Excellency  will  make  no  Doubt;  so  we 
conceive  that  we  have  just  Reason  to  apprehend,  from 
the  past  and  present  Conduct  of  the  House  of  Assem- 
bly, that  this  second  Rejecting  of  the  Bill  for  making 
current  40,0001.  by  the  Council,  has  been  the  chief 
Cause  (we  heartily  wish  it  were  the  only  Spring)  of 
these  unhappy,  these  ill-timed  Differences.  We  are 
sensible,  Sir,  nay,  we  are  well  assured,  that  many 
People  in  this  Colony,  who  have  taken  the  Publick 
•Money,  will  for  some  Time  be  distressed  by  paying  of 
it  in  again;  but  all  that  we  can  say,  as  a  Branch  of  the 
Legislature,  is,  that  we  heartily  pity  their  Condition; 
but  we  cannot,  in  justice  to  our  Country,  and  to  the 
Trust  reposed  in  us  by  His  Majesty,  redress  a  private 
Misfortune  at  the  Expence  of  the  publick  Weal 

But  why  the  Government  should  not,  at  this  Time, 
be  supported  in  as  ample  a  Manner  as  it  has  been  at 
any  Time  before,  we  own  we  are  at  a  Loss  to  know, 
seeing  there  is  now  in  the  two  Treasurers  Hands,  of 
the  Interest  Money  arising  from  the  Loans  of  tin's 
Province,  which,  by  the  Laws  that  gave  it  Being,  is 
absolutely  appropriated  to  the  Support  of  Government, 
a  Sum  sufficient  to  support  it  for  at  least  three  Years 
to  come;  the  House  of  Assembly  having  notwithstand- 
ing lessened  your  Excellency's  Salary  one  Half, 
reduced  that  of  the  Chief  Justice  to  one  Fourth,  and 
cramped  all  the  rest  of  the  Officers  of  the  Govern- 
ment, let  their  Pretences  be  what  they  will,  must 
convince  the  World,  that  they  do  intend,  by  such  a 
Conduct,  to  compel  your  Excellency  and  the  Council 
to  fall  in  with  their  Measures;  but  we  trust,  that 


1744]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          231 

neither  your  Excellency,  nor  the  Council,  will  prosti- 
tute the  Trust  reposed  in  you  and  them  by  His  Majesty. 

The  Assembly  indeed,  by  their  Votes  and  Resolves, 
pretend  a  Necessity  of  being  frugal  of  their  Money  (as 
they  are  pleased  to  term  it)  in  order  to  be  able  to  assist 
His  Majesty  in  case  of  Necessity;  but  we  are  well 
assured,  that  His  Majesty  would  be  much  better 
pleased  with  their  supporting  His  Government  in  the 
usual  Manner,  with  their  putting  His  Colony  in  a 
proper  Posture  of  Defence,  and  with  their  preserving 
Peace,  Unanimity,  and  a  good  Understanding  among 
His  People  here,  than  with  any  trifling  Sum  they  are 
able  to  assist  His  Majesty  with  at  this  Time. 

What  Lengths  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Assembly 
might  have  gone  upon  this  Occasion,  were  it  not  for  a 
noble  Stand  made  by  some  worthy  and  more  Knowing 
Members  of  that  House,  we  shall  not  take  upon  us  at 
this  time  to  say;  we  are  willing  to  impute  their  present 
Conduct  to  a  mistaken  Zeal,  and  their  Want  of  a 
necessary  Knowledge  of  the  true  Boundaries  that 
divide  the  distinct  Parts  of  which  our  happy  Constitu- 
tion is  composed,  that  is,  the  three  Branches  of  the 
Legislature;  and  we  still  live  in  Hopes,  that  when  they 
come  to  Know  how  essentially  necessary  every  Part, 
when  confined  to  the  proper  Limits  of  its  own  Power, 
is  to  the  Preservation  and  Well-being  of  the  Whole, 
they  will  alter  their  present  Measures,  and  heartily 
join  with  us  in  procuring  to  ourselves  and  the  People, 
for  whom  we  act,  many  salutary  Laws,  productive  of 
Wealth,  Peace,  and  lasting  Happiness. 

As  we  can,  from  the  Tranquillity  of  our  Minds, 
assure  your  Excellency,  that  we  have  acted  every  Part 
with  strict  Honour  in  Defence  of  His  Majesty's  Pre- 
rogative for  the  Preservation  of  our  happy  Constitu- 
tion, and  in  Support  of  the  true  Liberties,  Privileges, 
and  real  Well-being  of  the  People  of  this  Colony;  so 
we  humbly  pray,  that  your  Excellency  will  lay  this 


232         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

our  humble  Kepresentation   at  His  Majesty's  Feet, 
where  we  doubt  not  it  will  meet  with  a  Treatment 
worthy  the  Known  Justice  of  our  Royal  Master. 
By  Order  of  the  House, 

JOHN  READING,  Speaker. 


Letter  from  Governor  Morris  to  the  Lords  of  Trade — 
Recommendations  for  the  Council. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F.  71.] 

Triplicate,  Kingsbury  febry  1st  1744-5 

[N.  B.  Neither  of  the  two  former  were  receiv'd 
when  this  came.  28.  May  1745.] 

My  Lords, 

This  serves  to  Informe  your  Lps  that  my  Letters  to 
Your  Lordships  &  the  Secretary  of  State  and  the  Pub- 
lick  Papers  are  put  into  a  Small  box  directed  to  your 
Lordships  being  too  bulky  to  be  made  up  conveniently 
any  other  way  I  sent  them  to  New  York  to  be  put  on 
board  a  Ship  call'd  the  Queen  of  hungary  one  Hilton 
(I  think)  Master.  Inclos'd  is  a  representation  of  the 
Councill  to  me  which  if  the  other  papers  should  not 
come  to  hand  may  give  your  Lps  some  insight  into  the 
present  state  of  Our  affaires.  Partridge  our  Agent,  or 
rather  the  Assembly's  Agent,  was  directed  by  our  late 
Assembly  to  Appeare  against  the  Bill  to  be  brought 
into  Parliament  with  relation  to  the  Paper  currency : 
But  he  has  no  such  Orders  from  the  Government. 
Lest  he  sho'uld  Pretend  to  it  and  use  that  Assemblys 
direction  as  such  I  Inclose  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  him. 
*  I  have  mentioned  in  mine  to  your  Lps  the  Assemblys 
complaint  of  the  Councills  not  being  full.  I  could  fill 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          233 

them  up  to  no  more  than  Seaven;  which  I  have  done 
as  there  was  Occasion:  But  to  take  away  all  pre- 
tences of  complaint  on  that  head,  I  have  recommended 
to  Your  Lordships  to  fill  them  up  with  the  following 
pei-sons  viz.  Edward  Antill1  and  James  Hude'  who  are 
allready  sworne  into  the  Councill  I  have  pray'd  may 
be  confirm 'd,  and  that  Andrew  Johnstone',  John  Coxe, 
Peter  Kiml)ol  |Kemble?|  and  Thomas  Leonard  may  be 
added  to  make  up  Eleaven  residing  Councellors.  Alex- 
ander the  1 21'1  resides  at  New  York ;  he  has  a  great  inter- 
est in  this  Province  and  is  an  usef ull  man  when  he  can 
attend.  I  have  more  fully  mentioned  this  to  Your 
Lps  in  my  Letter;  and  write  this  lest  that  should  not 
come  to  hand  and  this  should,  the  men  I  have  recom- 
mended are  some  of  the  most  considerable  men  in  the 


This  gentleman  re- 
sided at  Raritan 
Landing  and  was, 
connected  by  mar- 
riage with  the  Morris 
family.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  eccentricities.— See  Contribution**  to  East  Jer- 
sey History,  p.  227.—  ED. 

was  one  of  a  Woodbridge  family  of 
considerable  note,  but  resided  in 
New  Brunswick,  where  he  died  in 
November,  1702,  holding  the  office  of 
Mayor  of  the  city.  His  obituary  in 
the  New  York  Mercury  states  that  he 
had  held  almost  all  the  honorable 
offices  and  employments  in  the  government,  as  well  as  those  conferred  by  the 
people,  and  adds:  "  His  death  is  not  only  an  irreparable  loss  to  the  poor,  who  had 
at  all  times  free  access  to  his  person  and  his  advice  and  assistance  without  fee  or 
reward,  but  to  the  public  is  a  subject  of  great  regret."— See  Contributions  U>  the 
History  of  Perth  Amboy,  p.  874.— ED. 

was  the  son  of  Dr.  John  Johnstone 
who  has  been  frequently  referred 
to  in  these  pages,  whose  sons 
dropped  the  final  "  e "  In  their 
family  name.  Like  his  father,  he 
held  many  responsible  offices,  and 
continued  in  the  Council  until  his 
death,  in  ITtti,  and  was  character- 
tied  by  "  good  equality  of  temper,  circumspection  of  conduct,  an  open,  yet  grave, 
•sgsjflnij;  mien,  much  goodness  of  heart  and  many  virtues,  both  public  and  pri- 
vate."—See  Contributions  to  East  Jersey  History,  p.  78.-ED. 


234          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

Province  and  firme  in  the  interest  of  the  present  Gov 
eminent,  Elce  would  not  be  recommended    by    my 
Lords, 

Your  Lordships  most  humble 
and  Obedient  Servant, 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 

P.  S.  This  Goes  Via  Philadelphia  By  one  Mesnard 
by  whom  goes  duplicates  of  the  publick  letters. 


Certificate  of  Governor  Morris — concerning  the  Pro- 
prietors Surrender  of  the  Government. 

[From  the  Original  in  Rutherfurd  Collection  Vol.  Ill,  p.  191,  compared  with  the 
Record  in  Secretary  of  State's  Office  at  Trenton.] 

By  His  Excellency  Lewis  Morris  Esq1:  Captain 
General  and  Governor  in  Chief  in  &  over 
the  Province  of  New  Jersey  &  the  Terri- 
tories thereon  depending  in  America  & 
Vice  admiral  in  the  Same  &c 

I  Do  hereby  Certifie  that  I  the  Said  Lewis  Morris 
being  employed  by  the  General  Proprietors  Inhabiting 
in  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey 
to  Negotiate  their  Surrender  to  the  Crown  of  their 
Powers  of  Government  I  did  accordingly  in  Conjunc- 
tion with  Sir  Thomas  Lane  and  the  West  New-Jersey 
Societie  of  Proprietors  in  whom  the  Government  of 
the  Western  Division  of  New  Jersey  was  then  and  in 
Conjunction  with  the  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Divi- 
sion then  in  England  Negotiate  the  said  Surrender 
which  was  made  to  Her  Majestie  Queen  Anne  by  the  said 
Proprietors  and  my  Self  on  the  Sixteenth  of  April  one 
Thousand  seven  hundred  and  two.  That  during  the 
said  Negotiation  a  set  of  Instructions  were  agreed  on 


1745]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         235 

by  the  Crown  with  the  said  Proprietors  to  be  given 
and  continued  to  the  Governors  who  should  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Crown  for  the  Government  of  New 
Jersey  Three  of  which  said  Instructions  so  agreed  on 
were  in  the  following  words  Viz*  20  Our  will  and 
pleasure  is  that  for  the  better  quieting  the  minds 
of  our  Good  Subjects  Inhabitants  of  our  said  Pro- 
vince and  for  Setling  the  Properties  and  Possessions 
of  all  Persons  Concerned  therein,  either  as  General 
Proprietors  of  the  Soil  under  the  first  Original 
grant  of  the  said  Province  made  by  the  late  K:  Cha- 
2?  To  the  Late  Duke  of  York  or  as  Particular  purchas- 
ers of  any  Tracts  of  Land  from  the  same  General  Pro- 
prietors You  shall  propose  to  the  said  General  Assem- 
bly of  our  said  Province  the  passing  of  such  Act  or 
Acts  whereby  the  Right  and  property  of  the  said 
General  Proprietors  to  the  Soil  of  our  said  Province 
may  be  confirmed  to  them  according  to  their  respective 
Rights  &  Titles  Together  with  all  such  Quit  rents  as 
have  been  reserved  or  are  become  due  to  the  said 
General  proprietors  from  the  Inhabitants  of  our  said 
Province  &  all  such  priviledges  as  are  Expressed  in  the 
Conveyances  made  by  the  said  Duke  of  York  Except- 
ing only  the  Right  of  Government  which  remains  in 
us  And  you  are  further  to  take  care  that  by  the  said 
Act  or  Acts  so  to  be  passed,  the  particular  titles  and 
Estates  of  all  the  Inhabitants  of  that  Province  and 
other  Purchasers  claiming  under  the  said  Generall 
Proprietors  be  confirmed  and  settled  as  of  Right  .do's 
appertain  under  such  Obligations  as  shall  tend  to  the 
best  and  Speediest  Improvement  &  Cultivation  of  the 
Same  Provided  always  that  you  do  not  consent  to  any 
Act  or  Acts  to  lay  any  Tax  upon  Lands  that  Lye 
unprofitable.  New  Article  You  shall  not  permit  any 
other  person  or  persons  besides  the  said  General  Pro- 
prietors or  their  Agents  to  purchase  any  Land  what 
soever  from  the  Indians  within  the  Li  mitts  of  their 


236          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

Grant.  33  You  are  to  permit  the  Surveyors  and  other 
Persons  appointed  by  the  forementioned  General 
Proprietors  of  the  Soil  of  that  Province  for  Surveying 
&  recording  the  Surveys  of  Land  granted  by  and  held  of 
them  to  Execute  accordingly  their  respective  trusts 
And  You  are  likewise  to  Permit  and  if  need  be  Aid 
and  Assist  Such  other  Agent  or  Agents  as  Shall  be 
appointed  by  the  said  Proprietors  for  that  End  to 
Colect  and  recieve  the  quit  rents  which  are  or  shall  be 
due  unto  them  from  the  Particular  possessors  of  any 
Tracts  or  Parcels  of  Land  from  time  to  time  Provided 
always  that  such  Surveyor  Agents  or  other  Officers 
appointed  by  the  said  General  Proprietors  do  not  only 
take  Proper  Oaths  for  the  due  Execution  &  perfor- 
mance of  their  respective  Officers  or  Employments 
and  good  &  Sufficient  Security  for  their  So  doing  but 
that  they  likewise  take  the  Oaths  appointed  by  Act 
of  Parliament  to  be  taken  Instead  of  the  Oaths  of 
Alegiance  and  Supremacy,  as  also  the  test  and  Sub- 
scribe the  forementioned  Association,  all  which  you 
are  accordingly  to  require  of  them  &  not  otherwise  to 
admit  any  Person  into  any  such  Office  or  Employment, 
and  you  Are  more  Particularly  to  take  care  that  all 
Lands  Purchased  from  the  said  Proprietors  be  culti- 
vated &  Improved  by  the  Possessors  thereof. 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 

Be  it  Remembered  that  on  the  28th  of  February 
1744-5  before  Robert  Hunter  Morris  Esq.r  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  New  Jersey.  His  Excellency  Lewis  Morris 
Esqf  aforesaid  acknowledged  the  proceeding  Certificate 
to  be  his  Act  &  Deed.  ' 

ROB?  H:  MORRIS. 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          237 


The  Lords  of  Trade  to  the  Lords  Justices — with  recom- 
mendations for  the  Council. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey.  Vol.  XV,  page  88.) 

To  their  Excellencies  the  Lords  Justices 

May  it  please  your  Excellencies, 

Fenwick  Lyell,  Peter  Baynton  &  Archibald  Home 
Esq"  late  Members  of  His  Majesty's  Council  in  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  being  deceased,  and  Edward 
Antill,  James  Hude  and  Andrew  Johnston  Esq™  being 
recommended  to  Us  as  Persons  every  way  qualified  to 
serve  His  Majesty  in  that  Station,  We  humbly  take 
Leave  to  propose  to  your  Excellencies  that  they  may 
be  appointed  of  his  Majesty's  Council  in  New  Jersey, 
in  the  room  of  the  said  Fenwick  Lyell,  Peter  Baynton 
&  Archibald  Home  Esqr" 

Which  is  most  humbly  submitted 

MONSON 
M  BLADEN 
Whitehall      )  R.  PLUMER 

June  19.  1745.  J  B.  LEVESON  GOWEK 


Communication  from  the  I^ords  of  Trade  to  the  Lords 
Justices — making  further  recommendations  for  the 
Council  of  New  Jersey. 

I  From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  XV,  pa^e  «).] 

To  their  Excellencies  the  Lords  Justices 

May  it  Please  your  Excellencies. 

Cornelius  Vanhorn,  John  Schuyler  and  John  Wells 
Esq™  late  Members  of  His  Majesty's  Council  in  the 
Province  of  New  Jeis.  \ .  ID  ving desired  Leave  to  resign 
their  Seats  in  the  said  Council,  the  two  former  on 


238          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

Account  of  their  private  Affairs,  and  the  latter  on 
Account  of  his  great  Age  and  Infirmities,  and  Peter 
Kimboll  [Kemble?],  John  Coxe,  and  Thomas  Leonard 
Esqrs  being  recommended  to  us  as  persons  every  way 
qualified  to  serve  His  Majesty  in  that  Station,  We  hum- 
bly take  Leave  to  propose  to  Your  Excellencies  that 
they  may  be  appointed  of  His  Majesty's  Councill  of 
New  Jersey,  in  the  room  of  the  said  Cornelius  Vanhorn, 
John  Schuyler  &  John  Wells  Esqrs 

Which  is  most  humbly  submitted 

J.  PITT  MONSON 

K.  PLUMER  M  BLADEN 

B.  L.  GOWER  JA.  BRUDENELL 

Whitehall  June  20.  1745. 

[Under  date  of  September  18th,  these  appointments 
were  all  confirmed  by  the  King  in  Council.] 


Representation  to  the  Lords  Justices  from  the  Lords 
of  Trade— proposing  the  repeal  of  the  Act  regula- 
ting fees. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  XV,  page  146.  | 

To  their  Excell'ies  the  Lords  Justices 

May  it  please  your  Excellencies 

We  have  had  under  Our  Consideration  an  Act  passed 
in  His  Majesty's  Colony  of  New  Jersey  in  December 
1743,  Entituled  an  Act  for  ascertaining  the  Fees  to  be 
taken  by  the  several  Officers  in  the  Colony  of  Ney 
Jersey. 

We  have  consulted  Mr  Fane  one  of  His  Majesty's 
Counsel  at  Law  upon  this  Act,  who  has  no  Objection 
thereto  in  Point  of  Law.  but  as  M'.  Morris,  His  Majes- 
ty's Governor  of  the  said  Colony,  has  informed  us,  that 
the  Fees  directed  to  be  paid  by  this  Act  to  the  Officers 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          239 

of  the  several  Courts  of  Judicature,  are  so  inconsid- 
erable that  no  Persons  of  Character  or  Reputation  will 
care  to  accept  of  Employment  therein,  We  humbly 
propose  to  your  Excellencies;  that  the  said  Act  may 
be  repealed,  and  as  a  further  Reason  for  the  Disallow- 
ance thereof,  We  humbly  take  Leave  to  lay  before 
your  Excellencies  the  annexed  Account  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Assembly  of  His  Majesty's  said  Colony 
upon  this  Occasion,  taken  from  the  Notes  of  that 
House,  who  ordered  a  Copy  of  this  Act  to  be  printed 
as  a  Rule  for  the  People  there  to  govern  themselves 
by,  notwithstanding  it  was  passed  with  a  Clause  declar- 
ing that  the  same  should  not  be  in  force  till  His  Maj- 
esty's Royal  Assent  was  had  thereunto. 
Which  is  most  humbly  submitted 

MONSON 
R  PLUMER 
JA?  BRUDENELL 
B.  L.  GOWER 

Whitehall      )  J.  PITT. 

Augu  15.  1745. 


An  Account  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  His  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Jer- 
sey, in  relation  to  an  Act  passed  there  in 
1743,  for  ascertaining  the  Fees  to  be  taken 
by  the  sev!  Offices  in  that  Colony. 

On  the  21.  of  October  1743,  a  Bill  entituled,  An  Act 
for  ascertaining  the  Fees  to  be  taken  by  the  several 
Officers  in  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  was  brought  into 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  said  Colony,  where 
being  unanimously 'agreed  to,  it  was  carried  up  to  the 
Council  for  their  Concurrence,  who  made  several 
Amendments  to  the  Bill,  some  of  which  the  Assembly 


240          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

objected  to,  and  Committees  of  both  Houses,  were 
appointed  to  confer  upon,  and  settle  the  same,  which 
being  done,  the  Bill  was  passed  by  the  Governor,  Coun- 
cil &  Assembly  with  a  Clause  suspending  the  Execu- 
tion of  it  until  His  Majesty's  Pleasure  should  be  known, 
notwithstanding  which,  the  House  of  Representatives, 
with  a  design  to  defeat  the  true  Intent  and  Meaning 
of  the  said  Clause,  did  on  the-  5*.h  of  December  follow- 
ing come  to  this  Resolution,  ' '  That  as  there  is  no  gen- 
"  eral  Law  for  establishing  Fees  in  this  Colony  yet  in 
"Force,  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  House  that  the  Act 
"entituled  an  Act  for  ascertaining  the  Fees  to  be  taken 
"by  the  several  Officers  in  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey, 
"passed  by  the  Governor,  Council  and  general  Assem- 
bly this  Session,  as  it  has  the  Approbation  of  the 
"three  Branches  of  the  Legislature  here,  ought  to 
"  have  a  due  Weight  with  the  Judges  and  all  others 
"concerned  and  that  they  ought  to  take  the  said  Act 
"for  their  Rule  to  govern  themselves  by,  until  His 
"Majesty's  Pleasure  be  known  concerning  the  same." 
And  to  the  End  that  the  said  Act  might  be  made  pub- 
lick  for  the  Service  aforesaid,  they  ordered  it  to  be 
printed.  The  Governor  alarmed  at  this  unprecedented 
Behaviour  &  Proceeding  of  the  Assembly,  proposed  to 
them,  amongst  several  others  the  following  Queries, 
viz*  by  what  Authority  they  took  "upon  themselves  to 
"  say  that  an  Act  expressly  enacted  not  to  be  in  Force 
"till  the  King's  Pleasure  is  known  concerning  it,  ought 
"to  be  a  Rule  to  the  Judges  &  others  to  govern  them- 
" selves  by?" 

And  likewise,  "By  what  Authority  they  order'd.the 
"  same  to  be  printed  as  a  Rule  for  the  Government  of 
"the  People?" 

To  which  Queries  the  Governor  desired  a  direct 
Answer;  Whereupon  the  Assembly  came  to  the  follow- 
ing Resolution,  "That  as  this  House  only  gave  their 
"Opinion  of  an  Act  which  had  passed  the  three 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOBfclS.          241 

"Branches  of  the  Legislature  here,  and  have  not 
"  assumed  to  themselves  any  unaccountable  Authority 
"  they  think  themselves  not  accountable  for  that  Opin- 
4 'ion,  and  that  it  is  not  consistent  with  the  Honour 
"and  Dignity  of  this  House  and  the  Trust  reposed  in 
"them,  to  give  any  other  Answer."  This  Proceeding 
of  the  Assembly  induced  the  Governor  to  take  Notice 
(in  a  Speech  he  made  to  both  Houses  on  the  10"'  of 
December  1743)  of  the  Assembly  of  the  Assembly's 
carrying  that  or  any  other  Act  into  Execution,  that 
had  been  Passed  by  the  three  Branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture with  a  Clause  providing  that  the  same  should  not 
be  in  Force  till  His  Majesty's  Pleasure  was  known,  and 
likewise  told  them  that  he  hoped  they  would  be  more 
prudent  than  to  make  an  order  for  printing  the  same; 
notwithstanding  which  at  their  next  Session  they  car- 
ried their  former  Order  into  Execution,  and  a  Copy  of 
the  Act  was  printed  in  the  Votes  of  the  House  of 
Assembly  of  the  201!1  November  I744r,  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid 


17 


242          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 


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1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  OOVERNOB  LEWIS   MORRIS.          243 


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244          ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1745 


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1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  OOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          '44.5 


List  of  Rioters  in  Essex  County,  1745. 

[From  Papers  of  James  Alexander  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  1  j 

A  List  of  Rioters  Indicted  in  Essex  County 
Quarter  Sessions  and  Removed  by  Certio- 
rars  into  the  Supf  Court  the  November 
term  following  1 745 

Nehemiah  Baldwin 
Joseph  Pierson 
Daniel  Williams 
Eleazar  Lamson 
Gamaliel  Crane 

A  List  of  Rioters  in  Essex  County  Returned  upon  a 
Record  of  View  filed  in  the  Supream  Court  Novr  term 
1745 

John  Tompkins  Abraham  Ritger 

William  Williamson  Ebenezar  ffarrand 

Stephen  Young  Thomas  Gardner 

Job  Crane  Robert  Young 

Thomas  Sarjeant  Jonathan  Squire 

Robert  Ward  John  Vincent 

Johannes  Vanwinkle  Hendrick  Jacobus 

Thomas  Williams  Joseph  Lawrence 

Levi  Vincent  Junr  Samuel  Crowell 

William  Crane  Samuel  Stivers 

Elihu  Ward 


246          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 


Minutes  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Neiv  Jer- 
sey, October  3d  and  18th,  1745. 

[From  Printed  Votes  of  the  Assembly  among  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris,  Vol.  P,  No.  12.] 

Thursday,  October  3.  1745. 
The  House  met. 

Mr.  Eatton  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  prepare 
a  Draught  of  a  Message  to  his  Excellency,  with  leave 
delivered  it  in  at  the  Table,  and  it  was  Read,  and  some 
Amendments  were  made  thereto  in  the  House. 

And  then  the  Question  being  put,  whether  the  House 
agree  to  the  said  Message,  (which  immediately  follows) 
or  not;  it  pass'd  in  the  Affirmative. 
Ordered, 

That  Mr.  Crane  and  Mr.  Hancock  do  wait  upon  his 
Excellency,  and  acquaint  him,  that  when  Mr.  Speaker 
acquainted  the  House  with  the  Direction  his  Excel- 
lency had  given  him,  That  they  should  let  him  know 
when  met,  &c.  It  then  became  necessary  to  send  their 
Message  to  the  Place  where  his  Excellency  was;  and 
that  being  many  Miles  distant  from  the  Place  of  the 
Assembly's  sitting,  occasion'd  their  sending  the  Mes- 
sage with  the  particular  Directions  contained  in  it  to 
their  Messengers  where  to  deliver  it.  That  the  House 
are  sorry  his  Excellency's  Weakness,  with  the  Illness 
of  his  Lady,  should  hinder  his  meeting  them  at  Bur- 
lington. 

That  however  necessary  the  calling  and  keeping  the 
Assembly  together,  at  their  last  Meeting,  might  be,  it 
had  not,  then,  become  the  Subject  of  their  Inquiry; 
therefore  an  Apology,  to  them,  is  unnecessary;  Neither 
do  they  know,  that  either  the  House,  or  any  of  their 
Members,  made  Application  to  have  their  meeting  put 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          247 

off  untill  a  further  time.  They  were,  then,  in  pursuit 
of  a  necessary  Inquiry  concerning  their  being  remov'd 
from  Araboy  to  Trenton  (an  unusual  Place  for  Assem- 
blies to  sit  in)  as  they  apprehended  very  contrary  to 
His  Majesty's  particular  Commands.  And  the  putting 
an  End  to  that  Enquiry,  the  House  are  apprehensive, 
might  be  a  greater  Inducement  to  his  Excellency's 
Informers,  for  putting  their  meeting  off  untill  a  fur- 
ther Time,  than  any  Regard  they  had  to  their  private 
Affairs,  altho'  it  was  then  Seed  time.  The  Remem- 
brance of  th^  frequent  Impositions  of  this  kind,  and 
His  Excellency's  so  repeatedly  receiving  Informations 
from  others  concerning  the  Affairs  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  this  Colony,  without  taking  their  mean- 
ing from  themselves,  naturally  puts  the  inquisitive 
Part  of  Mankind  in  Mind  of  a  Remark  of  one  of  the 
Wisest  of  Rulers,  Prov.  29.  12.  If  a  Ruler  hearken  to 
Lies*  all  his  Servants  are  Wicked. 

The  Assemblies  of  New-Jersey  have  not,  hitherto, 
let  their  private  Affairs  (altho  in  them  they  have  suf- 
fer'd  deeply,  for  these  several  Years  past,  both  in  Seed 
Time  and  Harvest)  hinder  them  from  thinking  calmly 
on  the  Publick  Affairs.  They  did  so  in  Trenton,  when 
they  passed  a  Bill  for  Support  of  this  Government, 
wherein  Provision  was  made  for  the  several  Officers  of 
it:  At  the  same  Session  they  passed  a  Bill  for  settling 
the  Militia  of  this  Province,  and  one  other  Bill  for  pro- 
viding Arms  and  Ammunition  for  its  Defence;  the 
compleating  of  all  these  was  frustrated  by  the  Council. 
This  House  have,  since  that,  at  Amboy,  calmly  con- 
sidered the  State  of  this  Colony,  and  passed  a  Bill  for 
the  Support  of  this  Government;  which  made  the  like 
Provision  with  the  former;  and  one  for  settling  the 
Militia,  &c.  wherein  all  the  Provision  for  the  Defence 
of  the  Colony  was  made,  that  could  be  made  consistent 
with  the  Circumstances  of  it.  These  were  made  void 
by  his  Excellency's  Prorogation. 


248          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

And  now,  tho'  they  think  very  calmly  and  concern- 
edly of  their  publick  Affairs,  they  can't  tell  how  to 
pass  either  of  these,  otherwise  than  they  have  hereto- 
fore pass'd  them,  untill  they  can  obtain  some  Laws  to 
enable  them  respecting  the  former,  and  Convincement 
in  Judgment  to  induce  them  to  alter  their  Sentiments 
respecting  the  latter:  But  as  they  told  his  Excellency 
at  Amboy,  so  they  are  still  willing  to  pass  Bills  of  a 
like  Kind,  if  those  will  be  acceptable  to  his  Excellency 
and  Council,  but  not  to  make  any  larger  Applications, 
untill  they  have  a  sufficient  Encouragement  for  their 
obtaining  those  Bills  they  then  mentioned  to  his  Excel- 
lency: And  this  Opinion  they  are  confirmed  in  by  the 
General  Voice  of  their  Constituents,  which  they  con- 
ceive ought  to  have  some  Weight  with  His  Excellency. 
And  as  it  gives  this  House  great  concern  to  find  those 
Obstructions  to  the  publick  Business  thrown  in  the 
Way  by  His  Excellency  and  Councill,  still  unremoved, 
so  whenever  they  will  be  pleased  to  remove  them,  the 
House  are  ready  and  willing  to  proceed  accordingly, 
untill  that  is  done,  they  fear  they  shall  but  spend  Time 
in  Vain  (as  the  Assemblies  too  often  have  done)  in 
preparing  of  Bills  at  either  their  own,  or  the  Country's 
Expence:  They  do  therefore  rather  chuse,  until  then, 
to  follow  His  Excellency's  former  Advice,  to  defer  the 
preparing  such  Bills  until  some  future  favourable 
Opportunity,  when  Reason  and  Argument  may  have 
greater  Influence. 

The  Assemblies  of  New-Jersey  have  always  made 
ample  Provision  for  paying  his  Excellency's  House 
Eent,  ever  since  he  came  to  the  Government,  (tho' 
never  done  for  any  of  their  Governors  before)  and  had, 
in  each  of  the  above  mentioned  Bills,  made  Provision 
as  largely  as  ever,  notwithstanding  His  Excellency  has 
now  given  the  House  his  Opinion,  that  is  a  thing  inde- 
pendent of  the  Support  of  Government:  When  his 
Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  convince  this  House,  that 


1745J     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          249 

it  is  so,  he  will  not  find  it  any  hard  Matter  to  perswade 
them  that  they  have  nothing  to  do  in  providing  for 
the  Payment  of  it,  for  the  future. 

Whoever  will  take  the  Pains  to  read  the  Petitions, 
made  to  his  Majesty  for  a  separate  Governor,  and  give 
themselves  time  to  think,  they  will  find  they  arose 
from  the  Necessity  the  Inhabitants  were  under,  of 
having  Acts  of  Government  performed  for  the  Ease 
and  Relief  of  the  People;  and  as  this  was  the  End  and 
Design  of  the  Petitions,  so  we  have  the  greatest  Reason 
to  believe,  from  His  Majesty's  known  Candour  and 
Goodness,  that  it  was  the  chief  Inducement  to  him  to 
grant  their  Prayers;  and  when  his  Majesty's  salutary 
Intentions  are  answered  by  his  Officers,  the  People  will 
always  exert  themselves  in  keeping  up  their  Salaries 
to  the  utmost,  and  sometimes  even  beyond  their  Abili- 
ties: But  when  they  are  so  far  disappointed  of  having 
those  gracious  Purposes  complyed  with,  that  they  are 
in  a  worse  condition  than  formerly,  being  not  only 
obliged  to  groan  under  their  former  Grievances,  but 
the  Addition  of  new  and  unheard  of  Perplexities,  then 
will  they  make  Use  of  their  known  Rights  and  Privi- 
ledge  allowed  them  by  their  happy  Constitution,  in 
judging  according  to  Scripture  and  right  Reason,  that 
every  Man  ought  to  be  rewarded  according  to  his 
Works. 

That  the  Law  for  settling  the  Militia  of  this  Colony, 
pass'd  by  his  Excellency  in  the  Year  1738,  is  still  in 
force  till  March  next,  and  from  thence  to  the  End  of 
the  next  Session  of  the  General  Assembly,  which  will 
in  some  Measure  answer  the  Want  of  those  the  Assem- 
bly have  so  often  endeavoured  for,  in  order  to  put  the 
Colony  into  as  good  a  Posture  of  Defence  as  they  could 
do,  without  being  able  to  obtain  them;  but  as  no 
Endeavours  of  theirs  have  been  wanting,  all  the  ill 
Consequences  that  may  accrue  for  want  of  a  better 
Militia  Act,  they  are  humbly  of  Opinion,  ought  justly 


250          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

to  be  charg'd  to  the  Account  of  those  who  have  so 
often  frustrated  the  Good  Intentions  of  the  Assembly's. 

As  this  Colony  hath  not  (as  the  House  can  be 
informed)  ever  had  anything  to  do  in  Indian  Affairs 
(out  of  its  own  Limits)  neither  been  partakers  of  the 
Benefit  of  their  Trade,  they  make  no  doubt  but  the 
Treaty  will  be  carried  on  to  Satisfaction  by  those  who 
are  more  immediately  concerned  in  it  than  we  are: 
And  as  their  Commissioners  are  now  meeting  at 
Albany  on  a  Treaty  with  them,  wherein  they  are  to 
have  the  Company  and  Assistance  of  Governor  Clin- 
ton, whose  prudent  Conduct,  with  the  Commissioners 
from  the  Neighbouring  Colonies,  the  House  doubts  not 
will  be  sufficient  to  keep  them  in  their  usual  Fidelity 
to  his  Majesty.  But  if  it  should  happen,  that  those, 
or  any  other  Indians,  should  make  War  upon  any  of 
the  Neighbouring  Colonies,  this  House  will,  as  they 
have  hitherto  done,  exert  themselves  to  the  utmost  of 
their  Abilities,  to  assist  His  Majesty  and  his  Subjects 
against  their  Enemies. 

That  it  is  with  concern  they  hear  of  the  Riot  com- 
mitted at  Newark,  and  with  Abhorrence  of  all  such 
Actions  look  on  those  who  will  not  be  Subject  to  the 
good  and  wholesome  Laws  of  our  Nation,  as  Enemies 
to  the  Common  Good;  nevertheless,  as  far  as  we 
know,  the  Laws  now  in  Force  are  sufficient  for  the 
Punishment  of  those  that  are  guilty  of  the  Breach  of 
them;  and  the  House  are  of  the  Opinion,  that  all  vio- 
laters  of  Laws  ought  to  be  very  early  brought  to  Jus- 
tice; otherwise,  as  His  Excellency  very  justly  observes, 
the  Infection  will  soon  spread,  common  People  will 
follow  the  Example  of  their  Superiors,  and  hope  for 
the  like  Impunity.  Had  those  Magistrates  in  the 
County  of  Hunterdon,  complained  of  by  the  last  House 
of  Assembly  for  their  subverting  a  Law  of  this  Prov- 
ince, met  with  a  due  Discouragement  from  his  Excel- 
lency, it  might  have  deterred  others  from  attempting 
anything  of  that  Kind.  The  executive  Power  of  the 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  251 

Law  is  entrusted  with  his  Excellency,  and  only  the 
Assistance  in  making  tfiem  required  of  the  Assembly; 
and  when  His  Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  point  out 
to  us,  any  Deficiency  in  the  Laws  for  bringing  to  con- 
dign Punishment  any  of  the  aforesaid  Offenders,  it 
shall  always  have  its  due  Weight  with  this  House. 

That  we  have  the  Pleasure  to  acquaint  His  Excel- 
lency, that  we  wer*e  the  first  of  the  Colonies  (except 
those  immediately  concern'd  in  the  Undertaking)  that 
gave  a  Sum  of  Money  to  purchase  Provisions  for  the 
Use  of  His  Majesty's  Subjects  at  Cape-Breton;  and 
what  we  then  gave  was  judg'd  since  (as  we  are 
inform'd)  by  our  Neighbours  to  be  in  full  Proportion 
with  any  of  theirs;  and  we  hope  will  be  accepted  as 
what  we  are  at  present  able  to  do.  This  Colony,  by 
Reason  of  the  Expedition  to  the  West-Indies,  and  the 
large  Number  since  gone  in  the  Privateering  Service, 
is  very  much  drained  of  Men,  and  the  Season  of  the 
Year  too  far  advanced  for  the  raising  them  timely 
enough  to  be  transported  to  Cape-Breton,  were  they  to 
be  had,  and  we  of  Ability  to  defray  the  Expence, 
which  at  present  we  are  not:  And  as  timely  Intelli- 
gence was  sent  to  His  Majesty  of  that  Acquisition,  we 
make  no  doubt  but  that  he  will  take  the  Place  under 
his  own  Protection  and  send  Men  to  relieve  those  that 
are  there. 


Friday,  October  18th,  1745 

The  House  Met  *  *  *  at  two  of  the 
Clock  in  the  Afternoon. 

Mr.  Secretary  brought  a  Message  from  his  Excel- 
lency, which  he  read,  and  then  delivered  to  Mr. 
Speaker,  and  it  is  as  follows,  viz. 

Mr.  Beaker,  October  the  18th.  1745. 

I  Received  a  Paper  by  Messrs.  Crane  and  Hancock, 
which  they  said  was  a  Message  from  your  House, 


252          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

which  they  declined  reading  of  for  Reasons  to  them- 
selves best  known;  and  which  Men  of  any  Modesty, 
tho'  concerned  in  the  contriving  and  forming  of  a 
Message  of  that  Kind,  wherein  the  Methods  of  com- 
mon Decency  have  been  so  much  neglected,  had  but 
two  much  Reason  to  do. 

When  the  House  presented  you  as  their  Speaker, 
you  prayed,  that  the  usual  Liberties  supposed  to  be 
annexed  to  that  Station  might  be  granted  to  you;  and 
that  the  Members  of  your  House  might  at  all  Times 
have  free  Access  to  me  upon  urgent  and  necessary 
Occasions.  2d.  That  if  in  any  thing  you  should  mis- 
take or  misreport  any  thing  committed  unto  you  to 
declare,  that  your  unwilling  miscarriage  therein  might 
be  pardoned.  3d.  That  they  might  have  Liberty  and 
Freedom  of  Speech  in  whatsoever  they  might  have 
Occasion  to  propound  and  debate  in  the  House,  &c. 
These  Liberties  &c.  in  Imitation  of  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, were  always  asked,  as  they  were  by  you,  and 
always  granted,  both  at  Home  and  here:  But  so  as 
they  were  discreetly  and  modestly  used. 

No  Priviledges,  either  inherent  or  granted,  can  be 
construed  to  give  either  your  whole  House,  or  any 
Member  of  it,  or  any  else  a  Liberty  of  using  any  inde- 
cent Expressions,  or  of  vilifying  the  Kings  Representa- 
tive, or  of  abusing  His  Majesty's  Council. 

The  Conduct  of  your  House  at  their  last  Meeting 
shewed,  that  they  had  not  made  (as  they  tell  me  in 
their  Message)  what  was  recommended  to  them,  at  all 
the  Subject  of  their  Inquiry,  and  their  not  doing  so, 
requires  an  Apology  (tho'  they  say  it  doth  not)  for 
their  great  neglect  in  that  Case;  and  the  best  they  can 
make,  is  the  heartily  setting  about,  and  effectually 
doing  what  was  recommended  to  them,  and  needs  so 
much  to  be  done;  and  not  the  pursuing  an  Inquiry 
with  which  they  have  nothing  to  do. 

They  may  see  by  the  King's  Letters  Patent  under 


1  "•!"•]     ADMINISTRATION'  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          253 

the  Great  Seal  of  Great-Britain,  and  upon  Record  here, 
that  the  Calling,  Adjourning,  Proroguing  and  Dis- 
solving of  General  Assemblies,  is  a  Power  his  Majesty 
has  been  graciously  pleased  to  entrust  with  me;  and 
Assemblies  are  bound  on  their  Allegiance  to  obey., 
How  far  I  may,  or  may  not,  execute  these  Powers,  is 
contained  in  his  Majesty's  Instructions  to  me,  which  I 
have  communicated  to  His  Majesty's  Council,  one  of 
the  Parts  that  constitute  a  General  Assembly,  and 
who  are  the  only  Persons  here  that  are  to  judge  how 
far  in  that  Case  I  have  acted  agreeable  to  His  Instruc- 
tions or  not:  But  I  do  not  think  it  for  His  Majesty's 
Service,  to  communicate  farther  than  I  have  already 
done,  an  Instruction,  or  the  Effect  of  it,  to  you,  with 
which  you  have  nothing  to  do;  I  being  only  account- 
able to  His  Majesty,  if  I  should  neglect  His  Directions 
to  me,  which  I  have  not  in  any  Case  done  that  I 
know  of. 

Tho'  the  Members  of  your  House  might  have  spent 
their  Time  to  much  better  purpose  than  trifling  it 
away  upon  a  needless  Inquiry,  yet  I  do  not  think  it 
was  any  Motive  to  induce  the  Council  (if  they  knew  it) 
to  advise  the  Adjournment  or  Prorogation  of  the 
House:  It  might  indeed  shew  them,  as  it  did  every 
Body  else  that  knew  what  they  were  about,  (as  I  did 
not)  the  incurable  Disposition  the  Majority  of  your 
Members  are  possessed  of,  to  quarre^  and  jangle  upon 
every  Occasion;  and  industriously  to  seek  for  Oppor- 
tunities, and  make  use  of  every  Handle,  to  foment  and 
increase  that  Difference  between  the  Parts  of  the 
Legislature,  themselves  had  so  unwarrantably  and 
unreasonably  created,  and  leave  no  Method  unessayed 
still  to  continue  and  promote.  The  Reasons  the  Coun- 
cil gave  me  for  the  Proroguing  the  last  Meeting  was 
the  Necessity  the  Members  weiv  under  of  attending 
their  private  Affairs  at  home,  it  being  their  Seed-time; 
and  therefore  advised  me  to  prorogue  them  to  Bur- 


254          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

lington.  This  was  accordingly  done,  that  they  might 
then  without  further  delay,  enter  and  proceed  upon 
the  absolutely  necessary  Business  they  were  called 
together  for;  which  instead  of  doing  of,  they  have, 
upon  feigned  frivolous  pretences,  avoided  medling 
with  and  left  undone. 

The  Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  who  advised  this 
Prorogation,  at  a  Time  when  the  publick  Affairs 
required  so  much  the  Members  of  your  House  being 
kept  together,  are  Inhabitants  of  the  Western  Divi- 
sion, are  Men  who  well  know  the  Seasons  of  Seed- 
time, and  are  well  acquainted  with  most  of  the  Mem- 
bers of  your  House,  especially  those  that  are  of  the 
Western  Division,  and  their  Circumstances;  and  is  it 
not  more  reasonable  to  believe,  that  they  gave  this 
Advice  for  the  Reasons  they  say  they  did,  and  that  it 
was  agreeable  to  the  Sentiments  of  Men  they  were  so 
well  acquainted  with,  than  to  suppose  they  did  it,  to 
put  an  End  to  an  impertinent  Inquiry,  which  could  be 
of  no  good  Use  whatsoever,  but  evidently  entered  upon 
to  distract  the  Minds  of  the  People,  and  to  prevent  the 
House  from  proceeding  upon  any  of  the  Matters  then, 
and  before  that,  recommended  to  them,  tho'  of  the 
utmost  Consequence  to  the  Safety  of  the  Province. 

These  Councellors  are  not  my  Servants,  but  his 
Majesty's,  and  is  their  any  Reason,  from  this  Advice, 
to  conclude,  that  tjie  Advisers  are  Lyars,  and  Wicked? 
Or  that  the  Ruler  hearkens  to  Lies,  either  from  them, 
or  any  Body  else?  Expressions  like  these  may  gratify 
the  malicious  Temper  of  low  Minds,  unacquainted  with 
the  common  Rules  of  Decency,  and  incapable  of  any 
thing  above  the  Scum  of  the  People;  but  will  any 
Body,  but  such  as  themselves,  say,  that  it  is  becoming 
the  Representative  Body  of  a  Province  to  use  such  to 
the  King's  Representative,  and  with  Respect  to  the 
Chief  Magistrates  of  a  Province?  tho'  ushered  in  by  a 
Text  of  Scripture,  in  order  to  make  the  weak  minded 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          255 

among  their  Electors  believe,  that  the  Application  of 
that  Text  to  the  Governor  and  Council  is  just;  and  to 
alleniate  [alienate*  |  their  Affections  from  His  Majesty's 
Government,  and  stir  up  Sedition  amongst  the  People, 
upon  no  other  Ground  than  the  want  of  Shame  and 
Manners  in  those  that  made  Use  of  them. 

The  Remembrance,  as  they  say,  of  the  frequent 
Impositions  of  this  Kind,  and  my  repeatedly  receiving 
Information  from  others  concerning  the  Affairs  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  this  Colony,  put  the  inquisitive 
part  of  Mankind  in  Mind  of  the  Remark  of  Prov.  29. 
and  the  12th.  The  Inquisitive  and  Ingenious  part  of 
Mankind  are  always  capable  of  making  suitable 
Remarks  upon  what  occurs  to  their  Observation;  but 
that  doth  not  give  the  Members  of  your  House  (who 
are  by  no  Means  intitled  to  that  Character)  a  right  to 
make  Use  of  Scripture  to  abuse  their  Superiors;  which 
no  ingenious  and  honest  Man  would  think  there  was 
Reason  for  doing  on  this  Occasion. 

In  a  late  Address  from  your  House,  they  call  them- 
selves Plowmen:  To  such,  Language  of  this  Kind  may 
not  be  disagreeable;  and  from  such,  remarks  of  this 
Kind  not  unexpected,  as  being  most  suitable  to  Men  of 
such  Characters:  But  the  Wise  Son  of  Syrach  is  far 
from  reckoning  such  among  the  inquisitive  Part  of 
Mankind;  or  Men  supposed  capable  of  knowing  what 
the  inquisitive  Part  of  Mankind  would  do  in  the  38th 
Chapter  of  Ecle.  the  25th,  2(>th  and  33d  Verses.1 

Pray  what  are  the  frequent  Impositions  of  this  Kind 
that  they  remember  so  well,  and  my  repeated  receiv- 

1 A  note  is  here  appended  in  the  handwriting  of  Samuel  Nerill: 

"25  How  can  he  get  Wisdom  that  holdeth  the  Plough,  and  that  glorieth  in  the 
Qoad,  that  driveth  Oxen,  and  is  occupied  in  their  Labours,  and  whose  Talk  is  of 
Bullocks.  ' 

"  86.  He  giveth  his  Mind  to  make  Furrows,  and  is  diligent  to  give  the  Kin.-  Fodder. 

"  83.  They  shall  not  be  sought  for  in  Publick  Counsel,  nor  sit  high  in  the  Congre- 
gation; they  shall  not  sit  in  the  Judges  Seat,  nor  understand  the  Sentence  of 
Judgment;  they  cannot  declare  Justice  and  Judgment,  and  they  shall  not  be  found 
where  Parable*  are  spoken.'' 


250          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

ing  Informations  from  others?  Let  them  give  some 
Instances  at  least  of  these  so  frequent  Impositions,  if 
they  can,  for  I  remember  none  of  them;  and  am  so 
weD.  acquainted  with  the  Nature  of  Assemblies,  and  of 
this  in  particular,  that  I  need  no  Information  from 
themselves,  or  any  Body  else,  concerning  them. 

I  do  remember  a  Complaint  of  this  Kind  was  made 
by  the  present  Members  of  your  House  when  they  sat 
last  at  Amboy,  upon  as  groundless  Pretences  as  now; 
upon  which  I  shewed  from  their  own  Minutes,  that 
they  referred  to,  that  I  had  my  Informations  from 
their  Minutes  concerning  their  Conduct.  These  were 
two  notorious  to  be  denied;  and  with  much  ado  got 
entred  in  their  Minutes,  tho'  not  in  the  right  Place. 

By  these  Minutes  it  appeared,  and  always  will 
appear,  while  those  Minutes  (or  Eecords  if  they  please 
to  have  it  so)  remain,  That  the  Difference  now  subsist- 
ing arose  solely  from  the  House  of  Representatives 
themselves,  and  was  of  their  own  seeking,  unprovoked 
by  me,  and  at  a  Time  when  I  had  granted  them  all 
they  desired;  and  all  things  then  seemed  to  tend  to 
Peace,  and  a  happy  Settlement  of  the  Publick  in  the 
Opinion  of  all,  except  such  who  were  resolved  to  quar- 
rel at  any  rate,  and  run  the  Province  into  Confusion. 

This  Conduct  was  two  notorious  to  be  deniei,  and 
too  gross  to  be  palliated;  and  the  present  House  of 
Representatives,  whose  Members  chiefly  consist  of  the 
same  Men  that  so  industriously  raised  and  promoted 
that  Difference,  and  who  still  promote  it  to  the  utmost 
of  their  Power;  was  so  unable  to  deny  a  Truth  so  well 
known  and  evident,  that  in  their  Address  to  me,  they 
desired  to  be  excused  answering  what  I  had  said,  on 
the  Pretence,  forsooth,  of  their  being  Plowmen,  and 
not  furnished  with  sufficient  Talents  for  Controversy. 

When  I  moved  the  Assembly  from  Amboy  to  Bur- 
lington, (out  of  its  turn)  it  was  at  their  own  desire: 
This  came  indisputably  from  themselves;  they  became 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          25? 

Petitioners  to  me  for  doing  so,  and  to  induce  me  to  do 
it,  made  large  Promises  in  their  Address  to  me,  not 
one  of  which  they  have  complyed  with;  and  as  it 
appears  hy  their  Conduct,  never  intended  to  comply 
with  any  of  them:  This  shews  what  Opinion  the 
World  ought  to  entertain  of  the  Truth  and  Sincerity 
of  those  great  Pretenders  to  both. 

When  I  was  at  Burlington,  I  was  suddenly  taken 
very  Sick,  which  confin'd  me  several  Days  to  my  Bed, 
and  made  my  removal  to  my  House  at  this  Place 
necessary,  where  I  was  confined  to  my  Bed  and  Cham- 
ber in  great  Pain  the  greatest  Part  of  the  Winter,  and 
reduced  almost  to  a  Skeleton;  as  I  am  now  by  this  last 
Illness.  This  made  the  adjourning  the  Assembly  to 
Trenton,  about  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile  from  this  Place, 
necessary;  in  order  to  finish  the  Business  then  before 
them,  and  make  good  the  Promises  made  to  me  in 
their  Address,  if  they  had  any  Intentions  of  doing  it. 
This  is  a  Fact  known  to  all,  and  shew'd  the  Reason 
and  Necessity  of  moving  the  Assembly  at  that  Time 
to  Trenton.  There  several  Bills  were  passed  by  the 
House,  and  one  in  particular  to  make  current  £.  40,000 
in  Bills  of  Credit;  brought  in  with  a  i>ompous  Pream- 
ble for  the  Reasons  of  doing  it,  viz.  Building  a  House 
for  the  Residence  of  the  Governor:  A.  Place  for  the 
Meeting  of  the  Council  and  Assembly;  and  for  keeping 
of  the  Secretary's  Office.  These  they  well  knew  were 
good  Reasons  for  making  of  such  a  Bill,  and  much 
wanted:  But  as  there  were  no  enacting  Clauses,  either 
in  this  Bill,  or  any  other,  for  doing  any  thing  of  this 
Kind,  it  shews  they  never  did  intend  to  do  any  Thing 
of  that  Nature,  and  that  this  Preamble  was  mere  Pre- 
tence, introduced  with  a  View  to  induce  the  Council  to 
pass  the  Bill  as  it  was  then  drawn;  but  they  did  not 
pass  either  that  or  the  other  of  their  Bills,  for  Reasons 
they  have  assigned  and  are  publickly  known.  The 
Council  refusing  their  Assent,  the  Assembly  then  pro- 
18 


258          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

ceeded  to  a  Bill  for  the  Support  of  the  Government,  in 
which  they  lessened  my  sallary  one  half,  and  the 
Chief  Justices  three  Fourths,  and  cramp'd  most  of  the 
Officers,  of  the  Government  in  their  Sallaries:  So  that 
the  Support  of  the  Government  was  reduced  to  about 
the  one  Half  of  what  was  usually  applyed  for  that 
Purpose. 

This,  they  knew,  neither  would,  nor  could  be 
assented  to  by  the  Council,  as  very  insufficient  for  the 
Purpose;  and  all  the  Reason  they  assigned  for  this 
Conduct  was,  That  Ways  had  been  thought  of  to 
influence  the  Council  to  reject  their  Bills.  The  Coun- 
cil have  undoubtedly  a  Right  to  approve  or  disapprove 
any  Bills  sent  to  them  by  that  House;  as  is  owned, 
and  that  whether  influenced  by  Ways,  or  Reasons 
thought  of  by  themselves,  or  any  body  else:  But  if 
they  Exercise  this  Right,  which  it  is  on  all  Hands 
agreed  they  have  a  Right  to  do,  your  House  is  resolved 
not  to  support  such  a  Government. 

This  shews,  that  notwithstanding  the  Address  of 
that  House  petitioning  to  be  adjourn'd  to  Burlington, 
and  the  Promises  made  in  it,  That  the  Majority  of  the 
Members  that  made  it,  met  at  Burlington  predeter- 
mined not  to  comply  with  any  of  their  Promises;  nor 
to  support  the  Government,  or  provide  for  its  Defence 
by  a  Militia  Act,  unless  the  Council  and  my  self 
assented  to  the  Act  for  making  £.  40,000  Current  in 
Bills  of  Credit,  and  such  other  Acts  as  they  had  pro- 
posed, and  in  the  Manner  they  had  drawn  them. 

Upon  this,  that  House  was  dissolved,  and  the  Pres- 
ent chosen,  which  consist  chiefly  of  the  same  Men, 
and  possess'd  of  the  same  determined  Resolutions; 
and  accordingly,  during  the  Time  of  their  last  siting  at 
Amboy,  industriously  fought,  and  readily  laid  hold  of 
any  Pretence  that  gave  them  the  least  Handle  to  dis- 
pute and  differ;  so  that  the  Time  there,  was  chiefly 
spent  in  Wrangles  and  Disputes,  that  should  have 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORKIS.          259 

been  employ'd  to  much  better  purpose.  At  last  at  a 
Conference  with  you  the  Speaker,  and  some  Members 
deputed  by  the  House,  the  true  Reason  of  all  these 
Delays  and  little  Crafts  to  avoid  doing  what  they  were 
called  together  for,  came  out;  and  that  was,  they 
wanted  (as  they  called  it)  Encouragement:  And  the 
Encouragement  they  wanted  was,  a  Promise  that  the 
Bill  for  making  £'.  4o,<>00  in  Bills  of  Credit,  and  two 
more  they  named,  should  pass  into  Acts. 

They  did  not  pretend  an  Inability  to  support  the 
Government,  the  Contrary  being  evident,  and  Money 
sufficient  lying  dead  in  the  Treasury  for  that  Purpose, 
but  told  me,  the  House  would  willinyly  support 
the  Government  with  Sallaries  as  large  as  any  had 
been  given  during  my  Administration,  on  Condition 
they  could  obtain  these  Acts;  and  after  that  sent  me  a 
Message,  saying,  They  had  solicited  me,  and  that  the 
House  would  willingly  support  the  Government  with 
Salaries  as  large,  &c.  on  condition  they  could 
obtain  these  Acts.  They  add,  what  was  not  mention'd 
before,  viz.  That  would  enable  them  to  do  it  in  a 
Manner  they  could  approve  of;  What  that  Man- 
ner would  be,  I  know  not;  tho'  from  their  pass'd 
Conduct,  it  is  not  very  difficult  to  guess.  But  the 
Messages  then,  and  now  sent  to  me  plainly  shews,  that 
the  passing  the  Bill  they  sent  up,  both  by  the  Council 
and  my  self,  and  in  the  Manner  they  have  drawn  it. 
to  make  £.  40,000  in  Bills  of  Credit  is  a  condition 
of  supporting  the  Government,  a  Condition  which  if 
not  performed,  they  declare  will  not  support  the  Gov- 
ernment in  the  usual  Manner  even  for  a  single  Year. 

They  say,  they  shall  be  enabled  to  support  the  Gov- 
ernment by  the  having  that  Act  in  a  Manner  they 
could  approve  of:  But  pray  what  Manner  is  that? 
Would  the  Government  have  any  greater  Security 
than  it  has  already  of  being  supported?  Or  is  there 
anything  to  be  gathered  from  their  past  Conduct  of 
their  supporting  the  Government  as  they  ought? 


260         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR- LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

When  the  Act  was  in  Agitation  against  bringing 
Actions  under  Fifteen  Pounds  into  the  Supreme  Court, 
they  were  so  sensible  that  it  abated  considerably  of 
the  Perquisites  of  the  Chief  Justice,  that  they  con- 
sented to  add  to  his  Sallary  in  Consideration  of  that 
Abatement;  but  notwithstanding,  when  they  had  by 
that  Means  obtained  the  Act,  they  soon  after  took  off 
that  Part  of  his  Sallary,  and  more. 

However  essentially  necessary  they  call,  or  think 
their  favourite  Bill  for  making  £.  40,000  current  in 
Bills  of  Credit,  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Council,  who 
know  as  much  of  the  Matter  as  your  House  do,  and 
have  as  great  a  Eight  to  think  and  Act  in  Legislation 
as  they  have,  think  that  Bill  to  be  neither  necessary 
nor  convenient,  but  the  Contrary,  and  accordingly 
refused  their  Assent  to  it,"  as  they  have  to  your  other 
Bills.  But  supposing  they  should  be  so  far  influenced 
by  your  Clamour,  as  to  assent  to  such  Bill,  or  to  that 
Bill,  what  Security  has  the  Government  of  being  bet- 
ter Supported  than  it  was  before? 

You  may  call  any  Bill  that  you  think  fit  to  propose, 
essentially  necessary,  and  refuse  to  support  the  Gov- 
ernment if  not  assented  to,  as  well  after  that  Bill  is 
passed  as  before;  and  as  Things  are  Circumstanced,  if 
the  continue  so,  your  House  will  always  have  the  same 
Means  in  their  Hands,  and  it  is  not  impossible  to 
suppose  they  will  make  use  of  them  for  the  same  Pur- 
pose. 

In  a  Message  of,  I  think  the  27th  of  May  last,  your 
House  say,  that  they  are  determin'd  to  assent  to  no 
larger  Applications  until  you  can  have  an  Assurance 
of  obtaining  some  Acts  they  think  they  have  a  right 
to,  one  of  these  is  the  Act  to  make  £.  40,000  in  Bills  of 
Credit. 

It  is  a  Point  disputed  whether  any  Man,  or 
Authority,  can  oblige  a  Man  to  take  a  Piece  of  Paper, 
of  not  a  Farthing  Value,  for  the  Value  of  One  Shilling 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         261 

i 

or  Five  Pounds  in  Silver:  But  pray  how  came  your 
House  by  the  Right  of  making  these  Bills  themselves, 
or  having  them  made  for  them? 

When  I  called  you  to  this  Place,  instead  of  meeting 
you  at  Amboy,  I  told  you  the  Reason  of  my  doing  so 
was  my  not  being  able  to  attend  at  Amboy:  The  Thing 
was  evident  to  yourselves,  and  all  that  saw  me;  and 
the  necessity  of  your  Meeting  here,  or  not  at  all,  being 
self  evident;  there  was  no  need  of  the  formality  of 
calling  the  Council,  could  they  be  easily  got  together 
(as  they  cannot)  to  give  an  Advice,  which  of  Course 
would  have  been  given,  as  will  appear  by  what  Advice 
has  been  given  on  the  present  Meeting  here  by  His 
Majesty's  Council,  who  are  the  only  Persons  concerned 
to  advise  in  this  Case;  but  their  Advice  is  but  Advice, 
and  of  no  greater  Authority ;  and  tho'  I  always  have, 
and  always  shall  be,  glad  of  receiving  it  when  I  can 
get  them  together,  or  the  smallest  Quorum  of  them, 
and  pay  a  great  Regard  to  what  they  do  advise;  tho' 
it  is  no  easy  Matter  to  get  them  together,  there  being 
no  Provision  made  to  defray  the  Expence  of  their 
Attendance;  yet  if  I  should  take  upon  me  to  act  with- 
out, or  even  Contrary  to  their  Advice,  His  Majesty, 
upon  seeing  the  Reasons  of  my  doing  so,  is  the  only 
Judge  whether  I  am  blameable  or  not:  But  not  your 
House,  or  any  Member  of  it,  to  whom  I  am  no  Ways 
accountable  that  I  know  of. 

By  your  Message  to  the  Council,  your  House 
demanded  of  them  to  know  whether  you  were* 
adjoum'd  from  Burlington  to  Trenton  by  their  Advice, 
or  not?  The  Answer  to  this  Question  being  capable  of 
being  made  by  you  a  pretence  and  precedent  for 
demanding  in  any  Case,  an  account  of  what  Advice 
they  gave  the  Governor;  and  the  Demand  being  made 
probably  more  with  that  Intent,  than  to  know  whether 
they  advised  so  or  not,  (which  they  conceived  your 
House  had  nothing  to  do  with)  They  judg'd  it  by  no 


262          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

Means  adviseable  to  give  you  any  Satisfaction  on  that 
Head,  least  it  should  be,  in  Times  to  come,  made  use 
of  as  a  Precedent;  being  dangerous  in  its  Conse- 
quences, because  you,  or  future  Assemblies,  might  in 
any  other  Case,  demand  whether  the  Council  advised 
so,  or  so,  or  not,  and  if  refused  to  be  answered,  afford 
a  Pretence  of  Difference. 

Tho'  your  House  might  make  that  Demand  with 
such  an  Intent  as  well  as  with  other  Views;  yet  I, 
who  by  their  pass'd  Conduct  well  knew  they  were 
capable  of  making  any  thing  a  pretence,  and  would  do 
so,  to  avoid  what  was  required  of  them,  did  (as  much 
as  I  could  to  prevent  their  doing  so)  permit  the  Secre- 
tary to  shew  to  the  Speaker  and  some  of  the  Members 
what  Advice  was  given  me  on  that  Head:  He  accord- 
ingly informed  the  Speaker  of  this,  who,  with  three 
other  Members,  came  to  the  House  of  Mrs.  Loveland 
and  there  the  Secretary  laid  the  Council  Book  open 
before  them,  and  pointed  to  the  side  where  the  Advice 
was  written:  One  of  them  seemed  to  read  it  cursorily 
over,  and  all  of  them  might  have  read  it  if  they  would. 
But  one  of  them  ask'd  the  Secretary,  whether  the 
Governor  had  ordered  him  to  shew  it  them,  that  they 
might  enter  it  011  their  Journal?  or  Words  to  that 
Effect.  The  Secretary  reply'd,  that  he  had  no  Orders 
to  that  purpose;  but  was  permitted  by  the  Governor 
to  shew  it  them,  that  they  might  (as  the  Secretary 
supposed)  be  satisfied  that  he  had  called  them  to  Tren- 
ton by  Advice  of  Council,  and  upon  their  declining  to 
look  into  the  Book  more  than  had  been  done,  he  took 
up  the  Book  and  left  them. 

Tho'  most  believed  they  well  knew  they  were  called 
to  Trenton  by  Advice  of  Council,  yet  this  shews,  that 
they  not  only  did  not  want  any  Information  of  this 
Kind,  but  that  they  refused  to  receive  it  'when  they 
might  have  it;  and  that  all  the  Clamours  they  make  on 
this  Head,  are  groundless  and  unreasonable,  as  well  as 


1745]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOKRIS.          263 

untrue  Pretences,  to  avoid  supporting  the  Govern- 
ment, or  providing  in  any  Case  for  its  Defence;  they 
being  determined,  as  appears  by  their  Messages,  not 
to  consent  to  a  larger  Application  of  the  publick  Money 
to  the  Support  of  the  Government  than  what  they 
there  mention;  which  they  know  will  neither  Answer 
the  End  of  supporting  the  Government,  nor  can  be 
accepted  as  sufficient  for  that  purpose;  and  by  this 
Method  entertain  the  vain  Hopes  of  compelling  the 
Governor  and  Council  to  assent  to  their  Bill  as  they 
have  drawn  it.  of  making  Forty  Thousand  Pounds 
current  in  Bills  of  Credit;  and  this  they  may  do  on 
any  other  Occasion,  as  well  after  such  a  Bill  passes  as 
before,  whenever  the  Council  or  my  self  refuse  to  com- 
ply with  Demands  or  Proposals  either  of  us  think 
unreasonable  or  detrimental  to  the  Publick.  Of  this 
Nature  is  every  Thing  else  they  have  said,  mere  Pre- 
tences, and  very  weak  ones,  to  avoid  doing  what  was 
recommended  to  them,  unless  they  have  Forty  Thou- 
sand Pounds  in  Bills  of  Credit. 

These  Men  (tho'  they  cannot  bear  to  be  told  of  the 
evident  Miscarriages  of  former  Assemblies)  have 
unreasonably  clamour'd  in  several  successive  sittings, 
because  the  Justices  of  Hunterdon  were  not  prose- 
cuted, when  they  well  know  I  never  hindred  them 
from  being  so.  I  took  much  Pains  in  a  very  weak 
Condition  (as  I  am  at  present)  to  set  that  Matter  in  as 
clear  a  Light  as  I  then  could  do,  and  the  Law  was 
open  to  any  Body  that  thought  themselves  agrieved  to 
prosecute  them  if  they  thought  fit,  and  it  is  still:  But 
why  they  should  be  displaced  upon  the  Suggestion  of 
a  few  Petitioners,  till  they  were  con victed  of  having 
done  something  to  deserve  it,  or  prosecuted  at  the 
Charge  of  the  Government,  or  at  my  own  private 
Expence,  especially  since  there  is  not  any  Support  of 
the  Government,  nor  is  not,  nor  never  was  since  my 
Administration,  any  Fund  appropriated  for  to  defray 


^64         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1745 

the  Charge  of  that  or  any  other  Incident,  your  House 
has  never  yet  shewn  me,  nor  I  believe  never  can?  But 
if  your  House,  who  have  taken  upon  themselves  to 
determine,  that  these  Justices  have  subverted  the  Law, 
or  any  of  your  Members,  are  inclined  to  prosecute 
them  in  a  Court  of  Law,  they  are  at  Liberty  to  do  so; 
for  there  only  it  can  be  legally  determin'd,  whether 
they  have  subverted  the  Law  or  not.  This  you  have 
been  told  more  than  once,  but  resolve  to  make  use  of 
any  Pretence,  however  groundless,  to  continue  your 
Clamours. 

The  Laws  are  sufficient  to  punish  Rioters,  or  other 
offenders:  But  neither  the  present  Militia  Act,  nor 
any  that  you  have  attempted  to  make,  are' sufficient 
to  quell  a  Eiot  of  this  Kind,  or.  perhaps  an  Insurrec- 
tion, for  which  force  may  be  necessary;  which  cannot 
be  continued  without  some  Provision  to  support  them ; 
nor  can  the  Officers  and  Courts  necessary  to  convict 
them,  attend  that  Service,  without  Sallaries,  or  some 
Provision,  to  defray  the  Charge  of  Prosecution,  which 
are  not  provided,  nor,  as  appears,  intended  to  be  pro 
vided  for  by  your  House. 

The  Petitions  for  a  separate  Governor  are  known,  as 
are  the  Reasons  for  making  them;  which  were,  that 
the  Governor  generally  resided  at  New- York,  and 
often  preferred  the  Interest  of  that  Province  to  the 
prejudice  of  this;  that  his  Absence  occasioned  almost 
an  intire  neglect  of  the  Affairs  of  this  Government, 
and  great  Delays  in  the  Administration  of  Justice, 
both  in  Causes  depending  before  him  in  Chancery,  and 
before  him  and  the  Council  on  Writs  of  Error:  And 
whoever  reads  these  Petitions,  will  (from  your  Mes- 
sage) conclude,  that  your  House  never  did.  Do  you 
groan  under  these  Grievances  now?  or  did  you  at 
any  time  since  my  Administration?  Have  I  been  out 
of  the  Government  at  any  time  since  I  came  into  it, 
unless  a  small  Time  at  first  to  provide  for  the  Removal 


1745J     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          265 

of  Wife  and  Family  into  this  Province?  Has  there 
been  any  unreasonable'  or  great  Delays  in  Causes 
depending  before  me  in  Chancery,  or  before  the  Coun- 
cil and  my  self  on  Writs  of  Error?  Say  if  you  can;  for 
these  were  the  Mattel's  complained  of.  What  Act  of 
Government  has  been  refused  to  be  done,  for  the  Relief 
of  the  People?  You  ought  at  least  to  have  mention'd 
one  among  this  heavy  Load  of  Grievances  that  you 
groan  under:  But  all  this  Noise  of  Grievances,  this 
refusal  of  Acts  of  Government  for  the  relief  of  the 
People,  upon  Examination,  will  amount  to  no  more 
than  the  Council's  denying  their  Assent  to  your  Bill  to 
make  Forty  Thousand  Pounds,  and  this  only  is  evi- 
dently meant  by  what  they  say. 

Tho'  you  never  had>  or  never  should  have,  any  thing 
to  do  witji  the  Indians  out  of  your  own  Limits,  or  the 
People  of  Albany,  yet  (as  an  Indian  War  is  not 
unlikely)  Care  should  be  taken  to  provide  for  the  Sub- 
sistence of  a  Force  to  protect  our  back  Settlements,  in 
case  it  should  happen:  But  it  seems  nothing  is  to  be 
done,  tho'  absolutely  necessary  without  Forty  Thou- 
sand Pounds  in  Bills  of  Credit  being  made  Current. 

You  excuse  the  not  giving  Aid  of  Men  to  Louisburg, 
because  the  Province  is  drained  of  People  by  Priva- 
teering: Few  went  a  Privateering  from  this  Province, 
and  notwithstanding  the  pretended  Diminution  by 
Privateering,  or  the  real  Numl>er  of  three  full  Com- 
l>anies  of  loo  men  each  that  went  to  Carthegena,  the 
Province  is  so  far  from  being  drain'd  of  People,  as  you 
pretend,  that  by  the  Account^  IK.NV  brought  me  in  of 
their  Numbers,  there  aiv  above  Sixteen  Thousand 
souls  more  than  there  was  in  the  Year  1737-S  or  17H8. 
when  they  were  last  numbered;  so  that  what  your 
House  take  upon  themselves  to  assert,  appears  a  poor 
Excuse,  without  the  Foundation  of  Truth  to  support  it. 

LEWIS  MORRIS. 

Then  Mr.  Secretary  read  a  Prorogation  under  the 


266         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Great- Seal  of  this  Colony,  whereby  the  General 
Assembly  stands  Prorogued  to  Tuesday  the  Nineteenth 
Day  of  November  next,  then  to  meet  at  Trenton. 


A  Brief  Vindication  of  the  -Purchasers  against  the 
Proprietors,  in  a  Christian  manner. 

[From  Papers  of  Ferd.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Book 

P,  No.  3.1 

A  BRIEF  VINDICATION  of  THE  PURCHAS- 
SORS  against  the  Proprietors  |  in  |  a 
CHRISTIAN  MANNER.  | 

|  iiij  The  Preface  to  the  Reader; 

I  Have  presented  a  Letter  to  thy  Views,  hoping  that 
thou  wilt  seriously  consider  the  Reason  for  so  doing; 
as  every  private  Man  has  a  Talent  committed  to  his 
Charge,  at  least  one,  and  he  will  certainly  and  undoubt  • 
edly  be  called  to  give  an  Account,  how  and  in  what 
Manner  he  has  traded  with  the  same,  whether  he  has 
improved  it  to  his  Master's  Advantange,  or  his  own; 
And  likewise  I  tell  thee  Reader,  That  I  have  no  Hatred 
against  any  Persons  whatsoever,  for  I  could  heartily 
desire  that  all  Men  might  be  saved;  yet  this  is  what  I 
have  to  say,  that  I  have  more  Charity  for  some,  than 
I  have  for  some  Others;  Our  Lord  and  Master  Jesus 
Christ  had  three  Favourites,  [iv^  Peter,  James  and  John, 
and  of  these  Three  John  was  the  Darling.  He  was 
the  Disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,  with  a  peculiar  Love, 
and  was  admitted  to  lie  in  his  Bosom;  for  in  my  Let- 
ter, it  may  seem  to  some  Persons,  that  I  have  spoke 
more  in  Favour  of  one  Party,  than  T  did  in  the  other; 
but  I  would  have  thee  to  consider,  if  I  should  vindicate 
any  Manner  of  Persons  in  willful  Sins  I  should  become 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          267 

their  utter  Enemy,  and  for  that  Reason  I  vindicate 
none  but  what  is  agreeable  to  the  Gospel,  and  so  I 
desire  of  thee,  That  thou  would' st  not  look  on  the 
Weakness  of  it,  but  mind  the  Intention  and  Manner  of 
it,  and  so  I  would  have  thee  observe  these  Rules;  first 
believe  thy  self  then  to  be  no  less  accountable  to  GOD 
for  such  Sins  of  thy  Thoughts,  than  of  thy  Words  and 
of  thy  Action;  Eecl.  .m.  4.  God  shall  bring  every 
secret  Thing  into  Judgment,  whether  it  be  good,  or 
whether  it  be  Evil.  Secondly,  Think  Contentment  to 
be  the  truest  Riches,  and  Covetousness  the  greatest 
Poverty;  he  is  not  Rich  that  hath  much  but  he  that  has 
enough.  That  Man  [v]  is  poor  that  covets  more,  and 
yet  wants  a  Heart  to  enjoy  what  he  has  already.  3dly 
Think  it  not  Part  of  thy  Bussiness  curiously  to  search 
into  other  Mens  Lives,  but  narrowly  to  inspect  the 
Error  of  thine  own;  it  is  much  better  to  amend  one 
Fault  in  ourselves,  than  find  out  an  hundred  Faults  in 
another;  Fourthly.  Think  it  a  greater  Virtue  to  for- 
give one  Injury,  than  to  do  many  Kindnesses,  because 
it  is  harder,  and  more  against.  Nature?  But  let  not 
the  doing  of  one  hinder  thee  from  doing  the  other,  for 
both  are  Necessary.  Fifthly.  Think  him  no  true 
Friend  whom  one  Injury  can  make  thine  Enemy;  he 
must  have  no  Friends  that  will  have  a  Friend  with  no 
Faults. 

And  also  consider  this  further,  that  our  Tongue  is 
our  Glory,  the  Index  and  Expression  of  our  Mind  and 
Thoughts,  the  Instrument  of  our  Creator's  Praise;  and 
there  is  no  Subject  so  sublime  and  honourable  for  the 
Tongue  of  Man  to  be  employed  about,  as  the  Word 
and  Works  of  God.  There's  a  great  difficulty  in  gov- 
erning the  Tongue,  it  l)eing  a  proud  and  active  Mem- 
ber, and  therefore  the  Scripture  places  much  Religion 
[vij  in  bridling  of  the  Tongue.  James  i.  20.  It  is  the 
great  Wisdom  of  a  Man  to  know  when,  and  What  to 
speak;  how  and  when  to  be  silent,  for  a  Man  may  Sin 


2G8         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

both  Ways,  by  over  much  Silence,  as  well  as  by  over 
much  speaking.  Wo  be  unto  us  if  we  want  a  Tongue 
to  publish  God's  Truth,  to  plead  God's  Cause,  to  vindi- 
cate God's  Honour,  and  to  sound  forth  God's  Praise. 
Yet  place  not  Religion  in  Talk  only,  nor  Measure 
Goodness  by  good  Words;  'tis  much  easier  to  Talk  like 
a  Saint  than  to  be  one.  If  thou  canst  not  speak  well 
of  thy  Neighbour,  be  silent,  except  the  Glory  of  God, 
and  the  good  of  others  oblige  thee  to  Speak.  And  now 
Reader  consider  is  here  any  thing  contrary  to  thy 
Opinion,  take  care  and  do  not  abuse  the  Word,  least 
thou  come  short  of  that  Glory,  which  shall  be  made 
Manifest  for  nothing  is  more  certain  than  Death  to  all 
Men.  But  how  dreadful  will  death  be,  when  it  comes 
to  be  death  Eternal. 

And  now  Reader  thou  dost  find  here  some  few 
Verses  presented  to  thee,  with  an  Intention  to  soften 
thy  Heart,  before  thou  readest  the  main  Intention  of 
my  Letter,  and  likewise  a  few  Ejaculation  as  in  the 
latter  End. 

[vii]  A  Song  of  Praise  to  God. 

I. 

How  Glorious  is  our  Heavenly  King 

Who  Reigns  above  the  Sky! 
How  shall  a  Man  presume  to  Sing 

His  dreadful  Majesty? 

II. 

How  great  his  Pow'r  is,  none  can  tell, 
Nor  think  how  large  his  Grace; 

Not  Men  below,  nor  Saints  that  dwell 
On  high  before  his  Face. 

III. 

Not  Angels  that  stand  round  the  Lord, 

Can  search  his  Secret  will; 
But  they  perform  his  Heavenly  Word, 

And  Sing  his  Praises  still. 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          269 

IV. 

Then  let  me  join  this  Holy  Train, 

And  my  first  Offerings  bring; 
Th'  Eternal  God  will  not  disdain 

To  hear  an  Infant  Sing. 

V. 
My  Heart  resolves,  my  Tongue  obeys, 

And  Angels  shall  rejoice 
To  hear  their  Mighty  Maker's  Praise 

Sound  from  a  feeble  Voice. 

[viiil  SONG.  II. 

Praise  for  Creation  and  Providence. 

I. 
I  Sing  the  Almighty  Pow'r  of  God, 

That  made  the  Mountains  Rise, 
That  spread  the  flowing  Seas  Abroad, 

And  Built  the  lofty  Skies. 

II. 

I  Sing  the  Wisdom  that  ordain'd 

The  Sun  to  Rule  the  Day; 
The  Moon  Shines  full  at  his  Command, 

And  all  the  Stars  obey. 

III. 
I  Sing  the  Goodness  of  the  Lord, 

That  filTd  the  Earth  with  Food; 
He  form'd  the  Creatures  with  his  Word, 

And  then  pronounc'd  them  good. 

IV. 

Lord,  how  thy  Wonders  are  display'd 

Where  e're  I  turn  mine  Eye! 
If  I  survey  the  Ground  I  tread, 

Or  Gaze  upon  the  Sky. 


270 

V. 

There's  not  a  Plant  nor  Flower  below, 
But  makes  the  Glories  known; 

And  Clouds  arise  and  Tempest  blow 
By  order  from  thy  Throne. 

[ix]  VI. 

Creatures  (as  num'rous  as  they  be) 

Are  subject  to  thy  Care; 
There's  not  a  Place  where  we  can  flee, 

But  God  is  present  There. 

VII. 
In  Heav'n  he  Shines  with  Beams  of  Love, 

With  Wrath  In  Hell  Beneath; 
'Tis  on  his  Earth  I  Stand  or  Move, 

And  'tis  his  Air  I  Breath. 

VIII. 
His  hand  is  my  perpetual  Guard, 

He  keeps  me  with  his  Eye, 
Why  should  I  then  forget  the  Lord, 

Who  is  forever  Nigh  4 


SONG.  III. 
The  all  seeing  God. 

I. 
Almighty  God,  thy  piercing  Eye 

Strikes  thro'  the  Shades  of  Night, 
And  our  most  secret  Actions  lie 

All  open  in  thy  Sight. 

[xj  II. 

There's  not  a  Sin  that  we  commit. 

Nor  wicked  Word  we  say, 
But  in  the  dreadful  Book  'tis  Writ 

Against  the  Judgment  Day. 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRtS.          271 


, 

And  must  the  Crimes  that  I  have  done, 
Be  read  and  publish'd  there, 

Be  all  expose'd  before  the  Sun, 
While  Men  and  Angels  hear? 

IV. 

Lord,  at  thy  Foot  asham'd  I  lie, 

Upward  I  dare  not  look; 
Pardon  my  Sins  before  I  die, 

And  blot  them  from  thy  Book. 

V. 
Remember  all  the  Dying  pains 

That  my  Redeemer  felt, 
And  let  his  Blood  wash  out  my  stains, 

And  answer  for  my  Guilt. 

VI. 

0  may  I  now  forever  fear 

T  indulge  a  Sinful  thought, 
Since  the  great  God  can  see  and  hear 
And  Write  down  every  Fault. 

[xi]  SONG.   IV. 

Solemn  Thoughts  of  God  and  Death. 

I. 

There  is  a  God  that  Reigns  above, 
Loi-d  of  the  Heav'ns,  &  Earth  &  Seas: 

1  fear  his  Wrath,  I  ask  his  love, 

And  with  my  Lips  I  sing  his  Praise. 

II. 

There  is  a  Law  which  he  writ, 
To  Teach  all  what  we  must  do; 

My  Soul  to  his  Command  ^nlmiit. 
For  they  are  Holy,  Just  and  True. 


272          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

III. 

There  is  an  Hour  when  I  must  Die, 
Nor  do  I  know  how  soon  'twill  come; 

A  thousand  Men  as  young  as  I 

Are  call'd  by  Death  to  hear  their  Doom. 

(1)  A  Brief  Vindication,  &c. 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  Newark,  and  The  rest  of  the 
American  Brethren;  sendeth,  these  few  Lines  Greet- 
ing; Hoping  by  the  Blessing  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus 
that  you  will  give  your  Attention.  Now,  as  every 
Man  that  is  born  of  a  Woman  ought  to  consider,  that 
there  is  Nothing  concerns  a  Man  so  much  as  the  Sal- 
vation of  his  Sonl,  this  is  the  Thing  in  Hand  to  con- 
sider; methinks,  according  to  the  Ways  and  Manner 
of  acting  at  this  present  Time,  there  is  but  little,  or 
very  little  indeed  that  takes  Notice  of  this  great  Work 
of  Salvation;  there  is  a  (2)  Heaven  of  Happiness  before 
us,  and  also  a  Hell  of  Tormenting,  and  yet  we  live  in 
this  World  as  if  this  was  false,  and  a  lie  too;  as  it  may 
be  seen  in  a  plain  sight  to  those  that's  true  to  the 
eternal  King  of  Heaven,  and  he  that  walks  willfully 
contrary  His  rule  can't  be  look'd  on  no  other  but  as 
bastardly  Broodes;  for  Reason  itself  against  us,  that 
those  are  Enemies  to  the  God  of  Truth,  and  then  con- 
sider first.  There  is  one  Thing  needful  to  every  Man's 
Salvation,  and  that  is  this,  Namely,  a  right  Knowl- 
edge, a  right  Faith  and  a  righteous  Life;  Knowledge -is 
the  Foundation  of  our  Faith,  and  Faith  the  Foundation 
of  our  Obedience,  aud  Obedience  the  condition  of  our 
Happiness;  for  although  a  Man  may  know  the  Will  of- 
God,  and  not  do  it,  yet  he  can  never  do  it  acceptably 
and  not  know  it.  A  wilfull  ignorant  Man  can  neither 
serve  God,  nor  be  saved  by  Him.  And  this  I  suppose 
you'll  all  agree  to  believe,  but  not  to  perform  and 
practice  the  same;  And  so  I  beg  leave,  if  pleaseth  to 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION'  OF  OOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          273 

give  me  this  Liberty  by  sending  this  Letter  (3)  among 
you,  hoping  you'll  consider  the  great  Talent  that  is 
committed  to  you  by  our  Lord  and  Master  Jesus  Christ, 
and  likewise  to  consider  who  he  is,  and  what  he  has 
undertaken  for  us,  by  giving  his  revealed  Will  unto 
us  Christians  to  work  thereby,  for  he  gives  us  this 
Charge;  Occupy  until  1  come,  or  else  hold  fast  which 
thou  hast,  until  I  meet  thee  again  at  the  Day  of  Judge- 
ment. 

And  now  comes  the  second  Cause  to  consider,  and  I 
hope  you'll^not  be  forgetful  Hearers,  this  is  the  Coun- 
cil of  every  godly  Man?  Be  strictly  Just  in  all  thy 
dealing  with  Man.  and  think  not  thy  self  discharged 
from  the  Duty  of  Righteousness  towards  thy  Neigh- 
bour by  any  extraordinary  measure  of  pretended  Zeal 
and  Piety  towards  God,  for  all  such  pretences  to  Piety 
are  but  Hipocrisy,  if  Men  be  not  really  Honest  as  well 
as  seemingly  Devout;  for  Dishonesty  and  Unrighteous- 
ness will  certainly  shut  Men  out  of  Heaven,  as  well  as 
Impiety  and  Prophainess.  I  Cor.  vi.  9. 

(4)  The  third  Consideration  in  Hand;  Be  covetous  of 
nothing  but  of  doing  Good,  and  Prodigal  of  nothing 
but  of  good  Council,  remember  also  thou  Reader,  that 
readest  these  Lines,  that  the  fourth  Cause  is  next. 

Unwillingly  undertake  a  Suit  of  Law,  and  most 
willingly  make  an  End  of  it,  chuse  rather  to  buy 
Quietness  with  some  Loss,  than  Gain  much  by  Strife 
and  Contention;  for  going  to  Law  is  one  of  those  law- 
ful Things,  which  is  very  difficultly  manag'd  without 
Sin,  'tis  rare  if  a  Man  wrongs  not  his  Soul  by  righting 
his  Estate;  which  brings  me  on  the  full  of  my  Inten- 
tion, but  few  Words  is  necessary  to  consider.  Fir-t. 
Perhaps  some  will  object  and  say,  it  is  not  for  Men  of 
a  private  Capacity  to  dispute  but  obey;  well,  then  I 
look  upon  this  obedience  to  be  the  rule  of  Life  both 
Body  and  Soul;  and  then  to  consider  who^is  this  obe- 
dient Person?  Now  comes  the  Question,  and  tin 
19 


274          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

the  Matter  in  Hand:  You  may  see  with  a  clear  Sight 
that  there  is  Envy,  Revenge  and  Malice  brought  into 
this  (5)  Town  of  Newark,  and  when  these  Guests 
comes,  the  Devil  comes  too,  and  when  these  comes 
into  Being  'tis  a  hard  matter  to  drive  them  out,  and 
when  these  Evilers  remains,  there  is  no  Duty,  no 
Praise  to  our  Creator.  And  it  thence  is  Duty  upon 
Duty  heaping  up  vast  number  of  Duties,  but 
little  or  not  all  dutifull.  For  what  was  he  the  better 
for  sitting  with  Christ  at  the  Passover  when  his  Heart 
was  on  his  Money,  it  was  his  Sin  of  Covetousness  that 
made  him  sell  his  Master  that  innocent  Son  of  God, 
and  then  the  best  Ease  he  could  get  was  to  Hang  him- 
self; a  woeful  Remedy  indeed!  Which  brings  me  on 
to  shew  you,  that  Coveteousness  was  the  beginning  of 
this  misrule  and  mistake  that  has  happened  among  us. 
But  first,  I  hope  you  will  bear  a  little  with  me  in  my 
Folly  and  consider  this.  It  seems  to  me  that  many 
Men  think,  if  he  can  perform  some  formal  Service, 
after  he  has  committed  some  great  Crime,  that  God  is 
at  Peace  with  them  without  Heart  breaking,  Faith  or 
the  Spirit,  draw  (6)  a  Skin  over  their  Hearts,  and  then 
there  is  Peace  for  a  Time,  others,  whose  whole  Life 
was  spent  in  Oppression,  and  every  Penny  worse  got 
than  other,  if  about  the  Time  of  their  Death  they  per- 
swade  their  own  Conscience  by  saying  or  framing  a 
Prayer,  they  have  Peace  without  any  Satisfaction  or 
Retribution  according  (o  the  Law  of  Repentance. 
What  they  have  wickedly  got,  they  leave  to  their 
Heirs,  who  are  made  happy  by  their  Fathers  going  to 
the  Devil  as  the  Proverb  Saith.  They  never  loosed 
their  Bonds  of  Wickedness,  and  now  Chained  in  the 
Bonds  of  Black  Darkness  for  ever.  What  Numbers  of 
Ruffians  there  is  in  the  World,  Contemners  and  Pro- 
phaners  of  the  Lords  Ordinances,  Scorners  of  Religion, 
out  facers  of  Godliness,  whom  the  Lord  hath  shut 
Heaven  against,  go  on  in  a  graceless  venturous  Pre- 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          275 

sumption,  by  this  guile  of  the  Heart  (coveteousness) 
kept  from  seeking  Peace'with  God  in  Season,  though 
the  Lord  says;  Hell  was  made  for  them,  they  say,  I 
shall  Escape  Hell?  Whether  of  (7)  these  Words  shall 
stand;  they  think  nothing  more  easie  than  Repent- 
ance. This  Sin  if  I  do  it,  is  not  unpardonable,  I  shall 
repent  and  find  forgiveness  hereafter,  God  calls  at  all 
ours:  So  he  neglected  all  Council;  Those  exhor- 
tations come  not  near  him.  Seek  the  Lord  while  he 
may  be  found  to  Day  if  ye  go  will  hear  his  Voice, 
&c.  I  gave  her  a  time  to  repent,  but  she  repented  not. 
The  Lord  would  have  Purged  them,  but  they  would  not 
be  Purged;  till  his  Severity  suddenly  cut  them  off  as 
unprofitable  Servants.  Would  a  Man  be  so  careless  of 
his  Body,  as  to  suffer  a  Disease  to  prevail  by  Weeks 
and  Months  together;  because,  so  long  as  there  is  Life 
he  may  seek  help  and  recover?  No,  he  will  presently 
seek  help  and  recover,  be  he  never  so  Young  but  for 
the  Soul,  Men  put  off  from  Age  to  Age,  and  because 
they  can  repent  hereafter,  they  will  do  that  whereof, 
they  may  repent:  And  whereof  indeed  they  shall 
repent,  though  too  late.  After  Sin,  the  guile  of  the 
Soul  is  not  Sleeping,  though  the  Conscience  often  (8) 
be;  for  whereas  after  Bodily  harms  Men  are  for  the 
most  part  Wiser,  here  they  are  more  Foolish,  unless 
the  Deceit  be  more  timely  discovered;  the  Truth  is,  if 
every  Sin  might  be  seen  in  it's  own  Colour,  it  would 
be  as  Black  as  a  Devil.  But  that  Sin  might  go  down 
the  Cleanlier  and  stay  in  the  Bowels,  the  Heart  is  not 
backward  to  join  with  Satan  in  the  Varnishing  and 
Colouring  of  it.  Hence  it  is  that  Cut-Throat  Cove- 
teousness goes  masked  under  the  Habit  of  good  Hus- 
bandry: and  all  other  Black  Vices  are  grown  near  of 
Kin  to  the  most  beautiful  Virtues.  The  wicked  hark! 
can  defend  it:  All  Eves  brood  suckt  this  from  her; 
When  God  came  to  her,  the  Serpent  gave  her  to  Eat, 
when  he  comes  to  Adam,  his  Wife  gave  him  to  Eat,  it 


276          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

seemed  but  reasonable  when  he  comes  to  Cain,  who 
made  him  his  Brother's  Keeper?  Come  to  the  Cove- 
teous  Man,  he  hath  Scripture  for  himself,  he  that  pro- 
vides not  for  his  Family  is  worse  than  an  Infidel,  come 
to  the  Drunkard?  why,  was  not  Noah  (9)  Drunk  and 
many  good  Men  besides;  come  to  the  Swearer,  he  is 
safe,  so  long  as  he  Swears  nothing  but  the  Truth,  and 
by  that  which  is  good,  be  it  Bread,  or  Fire,  or  Salt,  for 
his  false  Heart,  tell  him  God  is  Merciful?  come  to  an 
Atheist,  that  never  kept  the  Sabbath  in  all  his  Life; 
so  that  with  him  there  is  but  little  difference  between 
it  and  another  Day  of  the  Six;  why?  Was  not  the  Sab- 
bath made  for  Man  and  not  Man  for  the  Sabbath,  he 
can  serve  God  on  his  Horse  -back  jnone  but  he  and  his 
Horse  together:  Another  tells  us,  how  the  best  Sinneth 
seven  times  a  Day.  This  is  Sin  grown  Witty  and 
Strong  within  the  Wall  of  a  false  Heart  and  fears  no 
Colour  nor  Forces.  Again,  when  a  Man  is  a  vile  and 
a  wicked  Person  in  God's  Eyes,  this  guile  of  the  Heart 
makes  him  think  himself  highly  in  Favour  with  God, 
Job.  -8  The  Jews  bragged  they  were  the  Sons  of 
Abraham,  when  Christ  told  them  they  were  of  their 
Father  the  Devil.  The  Pharasee  could  say,  Lord,  I 
am  not  as  this  Publican,  when  he  was  a  (10)  Limb  of 
the  Devil.  And  this  guile  is  fed  by  sundry  delusions: 
As  First,  by  a  conceit  of  Righteousness;  while  Men 
Measure  themselves  with  themselves,  or  with  some 
great  Sinners,  as  they  suppose;  so  did  the  Pharasee; 
Or  by  the  crooked  Rule  of  civil  Righteousness,  the 
common  Speech  is  now,  I  am  No  Swearer.  No  Thief. 
No  Drunkard.  No,  I  would  not  for  all  the  World  be 
so  bad  as  some  of  those  Professors,  so  Coveteous, 
Contentious,  such  a  Dissembler:  So  for  outward 
Righteousness,  as  the  Pharasee  looked  at  the  Law,  he 
paid  Tiths  of  all,  and  dealt  justly  these  pay  Tiths,  and 
does  truly  give  every  Man  his  own,  keep  their  Words, 
are  good  the  Poor,  keep  good  Hospitality.  But  all 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  OOVERNOR  LKWIS  MORRIH.          27? 

this  while  are  Alive  (as^Paul  saith)  without  the  Law, 
not  considering  what  Righteousness  God  there  requires, 
and  not  seeing  the  Corruptions  of  their  Hearts,  neglect 
inward  Lusts,  rising  up  against  God  and  his  Laws. 
When  only  is  it,  that  Poor  Men,  who  live  in  the  Breach 
of  all  Gods  Laws,  despise  (11)  the  Word,  neglect 
Prayer,  Prophane  the  Sabbath,  Swear  without  Sense 
or  Touch,  and  serve  their  Lusts,  yet  can  carry  all  with 
this  Conceit,  they  mean  no  harm ;  whereas  if  God  ever 
open'd  their  Eyes  to  see  their  Faces  in  a  true  Glass, 
they  shah1  see  how  Sin  decieved  them,  and  shall  pro- 
nounce the  Sentence  of  Death  against  themselves,  and 
the  Flower  of  Righteousness. 

(The  Heart)  it  will  make  a  Man  outwardly  seem  a 
true  Worshipper  of  God,  it  will  bring  the  Body,  and 
frame  it  to  Reverence,  when  there  is  none  within;  it 
will  make  the  Lips  draw  near,  when  the  Heart  is  far 
removed;  it  makes  Congregations  and  People  sit  before 
God,  when  their  Hearts  after  their  Covetousness. 
Idols  in  Churches  are  put  down,  but  Idols  in  Mens 
Heart  are  set  up:  And  this  is  the  Reason  why  the 
Word  and  Prayer  are  so  sorrowless;  we  have  Mens 
Bodies  now  and  then  say's  the  Preacher,  but  seldom  or 
never  their (Hearts.  Yet  we  can  shew  the  Shell  of  any 
Duty,  but  never  (12)  cares  for  the  Kernell  Inwardly 
it  can  Counterfeit  the  most  Excellent  Graces;  as  First, 
Faith,  when  it  hath  never  a  Jot;  it  will  presume  of 
God's  Mercy  and  think  this  Presumption  Faith.  What 
Man  saith  not,  he  believes  that  he  shall  be  saved?  But 
all  Men  have  not  Faith,  saith  the  Apostle:  Therefore 
it  is  a  Shadow  without  Substance.  Oh!  Dreadful  Sirs, 
to  be  in  this  World  without  Faith,  Is  dreadful  indeed. 

Now  comes  another  Cause  to  consider,  which  is 
Love,  our  Lord  and  Master  Jesus  Christ  gave  us  a 
precept  in  Mat.  xxii.  39.  that  we  should  love  our 
Neighbours  as  our  Selves,  and  by  this  Precept  shall 
Men  find  whether  they  are  Christ's  Disciple  «>i  not.  as 


278         ADMItflSTRATIOK  OF  GOVERKOR  LEWIS  MORRIS,     [1746 

it  is  to  be  seen  in  Job.  xiii.  35.  By  this  shall  all  Men 
know  that  ye  are  my  Disciples  if  ye  love  one  another 
saith  our  blessed  Saviour.  -  -  Again,  Love,  where  is 
nothing  but  Devilish  Malice. 

Neighbours  are  fallen  out,  and  are  at  Deadly  hatred, 
at  the  Time  of  the  Sacrement,  both  of  them  dissemble 
Love  &  (13)  Charity:  But  after  it,  they  are  as  Mali- 
cious and  Mischievous  as  ever  they  were  before. 

Now  Men  and  Brethren  I  hope  you  will  not  take  it 
amiss  of  me  by  sending  this  Letter  among  you,  what- 
soever I  say  to  you,  I  say  also  to  mine  own  Soul;  and 
so  I  shall  come  a  little  closer  to  the  Matter  in  Hand  by 
taking  hold  of  some  Steps  by  the  Way  the  wise  Man 
even  Solomon  hath  put  down  several  Precepts  for  we 
Christians  to  learn  the  Method  of  Christianity,  and  so 
I  shall  Produce  some  of  them  to  your  View,  Prov.  xiv. 
31.  He  that  oppresseth  the  Poor,  reproacheth  his 
Maker:  But  he  that  Hcmoureth  him,  hath  Mercy  on 
the  Poor.  xv.  1.  A  soft  Answer  turneth  away  Wrath, 
but  grieveous  Words  stir  up  Anger,  10.  Correction  is 
grieveous  unto  him,  that  forsaketh  the  Way:  And  he 
that  hateth  reproof,  shall  die,  11.  Hell  and  Destruction 
are  before  the  Lord:  How  much  more  then,  the  Hearts 
of  the  children  of  Men,  xxi.  2.  Every  way  of  a  Man  is 
right  in  his  own  Eyes:  But  the  Lord  pondereth  the 
(14)  Hearts,  3.  To  do  Justice  and  Judgment  is  more 
acceptable  to  the  Lord  than  Sacrifice,  13.  Who  so 
stoppeth  his  Ears  at  the  Cry  of  the  Poor,  he  also  shall 
cry  himself  but  shall  not  be  heard,  chap,  xxviii.  1.  The 
Wicked  flee  when  no  Man  pursueth,  but  the  Righteous 
are  bold  as  a  Lion,  vers.  3.  A  poor  Man  that  oppresseth 
the  poor,  is  like  a  sweeping  rain,  which  leaveth  no 
Food,  vers.  4.  They  that  forsake  the  Law,  praise  the 
Wicked;  but  such  as  keep  the  Law  contend  with  them, 
vers.  22.  He  that  hasteth  to  be  rich,  hath  ^an  evil  Eye, 
and  considereth  not  that  Poverty  shall  come  upon 
him,  chap,  xxix,  2.  When  the  Righteous  are  in 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS. 

Authority,  the  People  rejoice;  but  whe»n  the  Wicked 
beareth  Rule,  the  People  mourn,  vers.  4.  The  King 
by  Judgment  established  the  Land;  but  he  that 
receiveth  Gifts  overthroweth  it,  vers.  7.  The  Right- 
eous considereth  the  Cause  of  the  Poor,  but  the 
Wicked  regardeth  not  to  know  it,  vers.  14.  The  King 
that  faithfully  judgeth  the  Poor,  his  Throne  shall  be 
established  forever,  chap,  xxvii,  3,  4,  5,  H.  A  Stone 
is  heavy,  and  (15)  the  Sand  is  weighty;  but  a  Fools 
Wrath  is  heavier  than  them  both.  Wrath  is  cruel  & 
outragious;  but  who  is  able  to  stand  before  Envy. 
Open  Rebuke  is  better  than  secret  Love.  Faithful  are 
the  Wounds  of  a  Friend;  but  the  Kisses  of  an  Enemy 
are  deceitful. 

Well  then,  I  hope  you  will  consider  of  this,  and  take 
your  Hearts  into  Talk,  by  examining  your  selves 
before  it  is  too  late;  for  there  is  no  working  in  the 
Grave,  where  we  are  hastning  Night  and  Day.  The 
Word  is,  now  is  the  Day  of  Salvation. 

Well  then  by  your  Leave  I  shall  examine  this  Mat- 
ter by  all  things  in  a  clear  Sight,  according  to  my 
Ability;  you  are  sensible  there  is  Strife  and  Conten- 
tion, Revenge,  Envy  and  Malice  among  you,  and  how 
this  came  into  Town  after  such  a  Rate,  I  am  now  to 
declare;  you  are  told  that  Covetousness  is  the  Root  of 
Evil;  It  was  covetousness  made  Eve  the  Mother  of  all 
living,  to  covet  that  forbidden  Fruit.  It  was  Cove- 
tousness (1»»)  made  Ahab  to  desire  Naboth's  Vineyard. 
It  was  Covetousness  arid  Hypocrysy  made  Ananias  and 
Saphira  his  Wife  to  keep  back  Part  of  the  Money,  and 
was  struck  down  dead,  to  be  an  Example  for  them 
that  would  follow  after.  And  so  all  along  the  Old 
Testament,  and  likewise  the  New. 

It  is  "very  plain,  That  Coveteousness  is  the  Root  and 
Fountain  of  all  Sin,  and  likewise  the  Root  of  all 
Misery.  Of  all  Sins  which  the  Ministry  have  taxed 
for  the  common  People  there  is  none  so  noted  and 


280         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [l746 

exclaimed  against  as  their  Hardness,  Worldliness, 
gathering  of  Goods  and  Wealths  together,  and  the  Sin 
is  so  much  observed  above  all  others,  as  that  an  honest 
counted  Man  can  scarce  be  free  from  this  Imputation, 
by  Reason  that  it  goes  under  a  Mask,  undiscovered  to 
Many.  And  I  think  it  is  a  plain  Cause  to  all  Men, 
that  it  was  Coveteousness  brought  in  these  Proprie- 
tors, as  you  call  them,  into  the  Plantations  of  these 
poor  People.  If  there  was  not  (17)  some  desirable 
Entertainment  for  the  Flesh  you  would  never  seek 
those  Improvements.  Let  Conscience  speak,  and  I 
dare  say  it  will  accuse;  but  if  you  stifle  the  Voice  of 
Conscience  now,  it  will  perhaps  accuse  some  other 
Time.  I  think  it  is  plain  enough  before  you,  that  you 
was  the  Beginning  of  these  Offences;  you  cannot 
properly  say  that  you  have  obeyed  that  great  Com- 
mandment of  our  Saviour,  that  is  by  loving  thy 
Brother  as  thy  self,  or  else  me  thinks  you  could  not 
have  that  Heart,  to  put  one  of  thy  fellow  Creatures 
into  Prison,  for  cutting  Wood  on  his  own  Land,  for 
that  shows  plain  that  there  was  no  Love  at  all. 

But  further,  you  pretend  that  the  Land  belongs  unto 
you  by  Right  and  Title  of  Proprietorship. 

But  I  answer,  that  Right  was  never  made  publickly 
known  in  sight  to  common  People  unto  this  Day;  you 
are  very  sensible,  that  there  are  many  such  that  Pre- 
tendes  to  sell  Land  about  the  Country,  especially  in  this 
Government,  (18)  under  Pretence  of  Proprietors,  and 
likewise  Sold  Land  to  poor  People  without  giving  any 
Title,  but  Quit  Claim,  as  they  call  it,  and  so  made 
some  ignorant  People  believe  that  it  was  sufficient; 
and  after  a  little  Time,  another  comes  to  demand  Pay 
for  the  I'.and,  or  else  to  Prison  he  must  go.  Then  the 
poor  Farmer,  knowing  not  what  to  do  in  this  Cause, 
agrees  with  the  pretended  Proprietor  for  some  certain 
Sum  of  Money,  by  giving  him  Time  to  pay  it;  and  I 
think  it  can  be  sufficiently  proved,  That  Land  has  been 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          281 

bought  three  Times  by  such  Pretenders,  and  perhaps 
not  come  to  the  Right  Owner  unto  this  Day;  And  my 
Reason  is  this,  if  have  Right  and  Title  to  this  Land  as 
you  pretend,  why  do  you,  not,  warrant  and  defend 
when  you  give  a  Deed  for  the  same;  I  never  knew 
that  any  of  those  Pretenders  ever  did.'  Some  indeed 
will  warrant  to  defend  the  Land  to  keep  in  Safety  for 
Ten  Years  or  there  about  and  then  if  another  comes 
and  demands  the  Land  afterward,  what  (19)  care  he, 
he  has  got  his  Money,  and  away  he  goes  to  sell  more 
if  he  can,  or  else  gives  out  some  threatning  Words  if 
they  refuse  to  obey  him;  and  that  has  been  the  Prac- 
tice in  this  Country,  ever  since  I  have  been  acquainted 
in  this  Land. 

But  further,  you  have  objected  the  Title  of  those 
People  that  bought  of  these  Nations,  which  we  call 
Heathens,  the  native  of  this  Country,  you  are  sensible, 
that  these  Nations  were  never  conquer'd  by  the  Sword, 
for  they  are  peaceable  Nations.  And  likewise,  the 
Crown  of  England  Pay's  considerable  Bounty  for  their 
Peace  amongst  us.  But  if  you  go  on  after  this  Rate, 
you  break  the  Peace  with  these  Nations,  by  taking 
away  the  Land,  that  they  have  Sold  peaceable  to  the 
Settlers  of  this  Country,  which  I  think  is  contrary  to 
all  Reason  of  Human  Kind:  And  again,  methinks 
that  such  Practice  as  this  is  now,  is  more  Rebellion 
against  the  Authority,  than  taking  a  Man  out  of 
Prison,  that  was  put  in  for  cutting  Wood  on  his  own 
Land;  now,  let  the  God  of  Reason  (2O)  argue  the 
Cause,  and  your  Conscience  awakened,  and  you  nnM 
Confess  that  you  was  in  Fault:  Note  this  your  actings 
and  manner  is  contrary  to  the  Gospel,  and  likewise 
contrary  to  the  Rule  of  the  King  of  Great-Britain: 


1  Mr.  Alexander,  in  the  title  page  of  the  original  ropy,  wrote:  "  Page*  17.  1H  & 
19  Sum  all  thatR  any  way  to  the  purpose,  one  of  these  [pamphlet*]  could  not  be 
got  to  send  to  Mr  Penn  in  June  last  possibly  It  may  Entertain  him  a  little  to  See  It. " 
-ED. 


282          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

God  Bless  him  on  his  Throne,  and  preserve  him  in 
Health  and  Strength,  to  vanquish  and  overcome  all  his 
Enemies.  Amen.  Again,  if  you  consider  rightly  you 
must  Acknowledge  that  Cpveteousness  was  the  begin- 
ning of  this  unhappy  Misfortune,  by  bringing  in  Con- 
tention and  Strife,  Divisions  and  what  not  Threaten- 
ings,  Words,  and  such  like  Things  which  is  contrary 
to  the  Eule  of  the  Gospel  and  Nature  of  God. 

But  further  to  consider,  what  a  dreadful  thing  it  is, 
to  hear  the  Cry  and  Curse  of  the  Poor,  that  must 
be  dreadful  indeed;  to  have  the  Poor  Rob'd  of  their 
Habitations  is  cruel,  you  have  hear'd  it  said,  that 
ther's  no  Power  but  of  God:  The  Powers  that  be,  are 
ordained  of  God. 

Well  then,  to  consider  this  Tumult,  whether  it  be  of 
God  or  wholly  of  Men,  (21)  I  shall  be  very  Briefly  in 
this  Matter:  For  no  Man  knows  the  secret  will  of  God, 
nevertheless  we  are  Commanded  to  seek  his  revealed 
will,  and  so  I  shall  do  mine  endeavour  to  find  out: 
First,  you  have  seen  the  People  flocking  together  to 
defend  themselves  and  their  Habitations,  which  they 
have  had  in  Possessions  these  many  Years:  You  seen 
the  People  most  wilh'ngly  joined  together  to  defend 
their  Plantations  with  the  utmost  Vigour:  Then  you 
knew  not  what  to  do  in  this  Cause;  your  great  expec- 
tation like  to  come  to  poor  Accompt  or  to  none  Effect, 
your  great  Treasures  that  you  made  so  much  Reakon- 
ing  is  like  to  come  to  Nothing,  then  you  considered 
one  thing  and  then  another,  you  began  to  make  Par- 
ties, and  that  was  not  sufficient,  and  then  you  went  to 
some  Ministers  and  told  them  your  Grief,  and  desired 
them  to  Preach  a  Sermon  for  your  Defence,  to  see,  if 
that  could  avail  with  those  People,  but  that  would  not 
do  neither,  for  that  brought  a  greater  Strife  and  Con- 
tention still.  For  (22)  the  People  was  in  displeasure 
with  those  Ministers  for  Preaching  such  Lectures,  and 
indeed  I  cannot  Blame  them  for  it.  If  the  Word  of 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          283 

God  is  to  he  Preached,  it^  is  to  he  done  in  a  more  civil 
manner  then  so,  if  Ministers  makes  Parties  he  huilds 
with  one  and  pull's  down  with  another;  which  makes 
me  think  that  such  Preaching  is  not  agreeable  to  God's 
will:  As  it  is  to  be  observed  in  the  manner  and  actings, 
when  a  Minister  had  done  Preaching  before  they 
parted  the  House  where  they  were  Sitting,  there  was 
Division  and  Striving  amongst  them  who  should  have 
the  Land:  And  methinks  that  such  preaching  was 
nothing  else  but  a  Mocking  of  God's  Word,  which  is 
very  plain  if  rightly  considered,  for  who  can  think, 
that  great  Jehovah,  will  hear  such  Prayers  and 
Preachings  when  there  is  Strife  and  Contention,  and  1 
am  Sorry  that  I  must  tell  those  Ministers  that  the 
Spirit  of  Blindness  was  upon  them,  or  else  methinks 
that  they  mighc  percieve  the  Nature  of  things  better. 

(23)  But  further  to  consider,  after  you  saw  that 
Preaching  will  not  do,  and  will  avail  no  good  on  your 
Side,  then  you  Threaten  the  Law  again  by  telling 
some,  and  giving  out  report  of  Threatening  Words 
that  you  will  prosecute  the  Law  upon  them;  by  rising 
such  Report  that  they  have  broke  the  King's  Laws, 
thinking  to  fright'n  the  poor  People  out  of  their  Habi- 
tations, by  rising  such  an  uproar  amongst  the  Country 
in  a  sad  confused  Manner;  which  makes  me  believe 
that  this  Power  is  of  God,  that  is,  by  defending  these 
poor  Inhabitants  of  the  Country,  as  you  may  plainly 
see;  for  such  manner  of  actings  is  contrary  to  the 
Word:  You  remember  that  I  have  said  before  in 
'Proverbs,  He  that  hasteth  to  be  Rich,  hath  an  eril 
Eye,  and  cousidereth  not  that  Poverty  shall  come  upon 
him;  which  methinks  that  you  cannot  help,  but  reflect 
on  yourselves;  but  nevertheless  here  is  another  thing 
and  matter  to  consider:  You  pretend  to  be  the  right 
Owner  unto  this  Land  by  Right  of  Piraprjatonkipi  and 
(24)  these  People  pretend  right  Owners  by  Purchase 
of  the  Natives  of  these  Lands,  and  you  pretend  to 


284          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

recover  these  Lands  by  the  Law  as  you  say,  and  these 
People  pretend  to  keep  and  defend  their  Lands,  untill 
they  know  who  is  in  the  right,  Propriators  or  the 
Purchasers,  for  our  Country  Law  cannot  decide  these 
matters  for  such  matters  belong  to  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land, and  I  doubt  not,  but  it  will  be  gladly  accepted 
there  for  decidings  of  such  Matters,  for  I  do  think  that 
our  Gracious  King  God  bless  him,  will  do  Justice 
amongst  his  Subjects,  by  giving  every  one  his  Eight 
and  Title;  neither  do  I  think  that  he  will  take  away 
from  these  poor  Inhabitants  one  Foot  of  Land,  that 
they  bought  of  the  Natives;  and  I  doubt  not  but  he 
will  Vindicate  them  in  their  Proceedings,  for  it  does 
look  reasonable  that  they  are  the  right  Owners,  by 
Reason  of  their  Fore-fathers  went  in  Hazard  of  their 
Lives  among  them,  if  they  had  not  bought  these 
Lands,  they  could  not  have  any  Peace  among  them. 

(25)  And  now  let  us  consider  another  Matter,  sup- 
pose these  Natives  was  to  live  on  these  Lands  that  you 
pretend  claim  unto,  would  you  drive  that  Heathen 
Man  away  from  his  Land  that  he  makes  use  of  it,  No, 
you  would  not,  neither  dare  you  do  it,  for  then  you 
break  the  Peace  with  them,  and  also  break  and  forfeit 
the  Peace  amongst  the  Inhabitants  in  this  Country  by 
driving  People  out  of  their  Houses;  but  now  the  Cause 
is  altered,  you  are  not  like  to  prevail  so  no  longer, 
untill  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Country  is  better  pro- 
vided from  the  King  of  Great -Britain  and  the  Pears  of 
the  Eealm.  Which  methinks  will  come  to  pass  in 
little  Time  if  you  can  agree  like  Brethren  as  you  oughif 
to  do,  by  sending  in  your  Petitions  by  Consent,  and 
not  go  on  this  Way  no  farther,  but  join  together  Hand 
in  Hand  to  find  out  the  Truth  of  this  Matter  by  send- 
ing Home  your  Petitions,  to  wise  Men,  which  will 
settle  you  all  to  your  Content,  if  ye  be  not  Carnal  Men, 
by  walking  in  and  after  the  Flesh,  I.  Cor.  3.  1.  —  3. 
This  will  (26)  appear  in  (Alas)  but  too  many  Particu- 


1T4I»J     ADMINISTRATION'  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          285 

lars,  as  you  may  see  this  Day  amongst  you;  and  also 
among  the  Corrinthians.  AB,  they  were  Carnal  in 
this  there  was  among  them,  Envy,  Strife,  and  Division 
or  Faction,  vers  3.  And  because  of  this  which  was 
undeniable,  the  Apostle  appeals  to  them  and  makes 
them  Judges,  whether  they  were  not  Carnal  and 
walked  as  Men,  in  the  Flesh,  or  according  to  Men  and 
not  according  to  God,  as  it  may  be  expressed:  Are  ye 
not  Carnal  (  Ye  cannot  deny  it,  'tis  undeniable,  you 
cannot  deny  that  ye  are  envious  it  Witnesseth  (and  is 
not  only  Witnessed  by  others)  to  your  Faces,  and 
therefore  you  cannot  deny  but  you  are  Carnal,  for 
such  things  are  the  Works  of  the  Flesh,  Gal  v.  19.  — 
21.  And  it  comes  from  below,  not  only  from  Earth 
and  Men,  but  from  Hell  and  the  Devil  (who  worketh 
these  things  in  the  Children  of  Disobedience,  and  in 
you  who  are  here  in  Disobedient  Children  (if  ye  have 
bitter  Envying  and  Strife  in  your  Hearts,  Glory  not, 
and  Lie  not  against  the  Truth,  for  this  Wisdom 
(27)  descendeth  not  from  above,  but  is  Sensual,  Earthly 
and  Devilish.  Jam.  iii.  14.  15.  Tis  such  as  a  Spirit- 
ually and  Heavenly  Wise  Man  would  be  asham'd  of. 
Whoever  then  be  found  as  these  are  will  be  counted 
no  other  but  Carnal,  and  walk  as  Men,  wherever  they 
are  to  be  found,  a  Christian  should  excell  the  best  of 
Men  in  all  Morality  and  Ingenuity,  but  to  be  like  the 
worst  of  Men  envious  ones,  the  Devils  Pictures  is  very 
Carnal  indeed. 

But  again,  it  seems  to  me  that  this  Carnality  reigns 
among  Men  so  much,  is,  wanting  of  Religion  to  be 
grounded  in  the  Heart,  there  is  abundance  of  Chatting 
and  Talking  about  Religion  in  the  Country,  as  they 
can't  help  from  making  Parties,  by  saying,  who  is  on 
our  side  some  Men  are,  like  as  the  Corrinthians,  did  it 
seems  much  confine,  not  only  themselves,  but  God 
too,  to  such  a  Man-ministry :  They  look  f or  no  1  IK  i 
(some  of  them)  unless  Paul  did  Preach,  nor  others 


286          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

unless  Apollo  did  Preach;  as  if  their  Faith  and  the 
Blessing  had  come  from  the  Man;  Poor  (28)  Men  that 
will  let  none  feed  them  but  such  a  Nurse,  or  such  a 
Servant,  as  if  the  Milk  would  do  them  most  good  when 
this  or  that  Person  puts  it  into  their  Mouths.  How 
many  of  these  are  unto  this  Day,  that  care  not  to  hear 
unless  such  a  Man  Preach,  they  are  more  taken  with 
Man  then  God,  and  Man's  Word  then  God  too  too 
often;  when  we  must  know  that  if  any  Work  be 
wrought  'tis  the  Lords  doing,  and  he  alone  should  be 
wonderful  in  our  Eyes:  Whoever  brings  a  Mercy  'tis 
God  sends  and  blesseth  it,  and  the  Glory  should  be  his,' 
and  so  I  shall  Wave  this  for  the  present,  and  turn  back 
and  consider  what  has  been  discoursed:  You  are  sensi- 
ble that  there  is  great  confusion  in  the  Country  about 
Lands  of  these  Kind,  which  mnst  needs  be  great 
uneasiness  to  the  People;  and  I  hope  you  will  consider 
and  take  another  Method  than  Quarelling  about  the 
World;  such  doings  will  not  bring  you  into  Heaven; 
but  will  certainly  bring  you  into  another  Place,  if 
repentance  doth  not  come  and  (29)  pay  you  a  Visit; 
and  also  I  hope  that  you  will  consider  that  you  will 
take  the  Word  for  your  Rule  and  Practice;  for  you  are 
sensible  that  there  is  no  Sin  like  that  which  is  called  a 
wilfull  Sin,  that  is,  he  is  not  willing  to  part  with  it,  he 
cannot  have  the  thought  of  leaving  that  one  Sin,  and 
that  must  needs  be  Damnable. 

Whoever  is  so,  that  is  not  willing  to  deny  Ungodli- 
ness and  worldly  Lust,  is  Poor  indeed.  And  methinks 
the  Reason  is  this;  that  it  is  want  of  Religion;  for 
Religion  is  very  necessary,  for  there  is  no  State  on 
Earth  so  satisfying  as  should  take  a  Man  off  from 
looking  and  hastning  to  the  coming  of  Christ,  that  we 
may  be  always  with  him  and  altogether  like  him, 
Phil.  i.  23.  I.  Job.  iii.  2.  2.  Pet.  iii.  11.  -  13.  The 
good  and  bad  Things  and  conditions  in  this  World  call 
upon  us  to  long  to  be  above  in  Heaven:  For  if  it  be 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          28? 

bad  to  be  here,  'tis  good  to  be  there;  if  it  be  good  to  be 
here,  'tis  totter  to  be  there;  to  be  sure:  fhough  we 
have  enough  sometimes  to  say,  'tis  good  to  be  here, 
yet  we  have  never  enough  to  say,  'tis  l>est  to  be  here. 

(30)  We  should  all  take  heed  and  beware  that  we  do 
not  place  our  Growth  and  advance,  only  in  Knowledge 
(head  &  book  Learning)  nor  only  in  Gifts  and  Parts, 
nor  only  in  common  Graces:  No,  nor  in  going  from 
one  Opinion  to  another,  or  one  form  of ,  Church  Gov- 
ernment to  another,  from  one  Profession  to  another; 
this  I  fear  hath  been  a  great  Mistake,  as  if  were 
agoing  on  to,  when  (Alas!  if  this  be  all!  'tis  a  going  to 
be  tossed  to  and  fro,  with  every  Wind  of  Doctrine: 
Alas!  what  is  it  to  be  Episcopal,  Presbyterians,  Con- 
gregationals,  &c.  Our  Religion  lies  not,  much  less  our 
Perfection,  in  these  or  any  other  Opinions,  and  Form 
of  Government.  I  doubt  not  but  there  are  Saints  in 
all  these  Forms,  yet  withal  I  believe  and  affirm  that 
none  of  these  Forms  makes  them  Saints. 

We  should  be  as  careful  to  mind  and  discharge  the 
Duties  as  to  enjoy  the  Priviledges  and  Dignities  of  our 
State,  for  Sin  of  Omission  is  no  less  damning  than 
Sin  of  Commission;  and  mind  not  only  (31)  to  be  in 
Christ,  but  to  walk  in  him,  and  as  he  walked.  Study 
Commands  as  well  as  Promises,  and  look  after  Light 
that  we  may  walk  in  the  Light  (as  Children  of  the 
Light)  we  have  Fellowship  one  with  another,  i.  e.  God 
and  we  have. 

Thus  as  God  glorifies  us.  we  glorify  him,  for  which 
we  should  have  Ambition,  yea,  and  to  let  our  Light 
shine  before  Men,  that  they  also  may  glorify  our  Father 
which  is  in  Heaven,  Matth.  v.  13.  -  -  16.  Let  us  live 
in  Love,  and  Truth  and  Love. 

For  Oh  how  good  and  pleasant  a  thing  it  is  for 
Brethren  to  dwell  together  in  Unity;  let  us  not  be  like 
Ephraim  &  Judah  to  Envy  and  Vex  one  another;  but 
love  one  another  with  pure  love  Fervently:  Oh  how 


288          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1746 

pleasant  a  Thing  it  is  to  see  those  People,  that  bears 
rule  of  Go^rning  in  the  State  of  Common  Wealth,  to 
do  Justice,  to  love  Mercy,  and  maintain  the  Truth, 
and  all  to  be  done,  to  the  Honour  and  Glory  of  our 
Father  and  Jesus  Christ,  to  correct  Vices,  to  promote 
Virtues,  Oh!  what  happy  thing  that  (32)  would  be  to 
the  State  of  Mankind,  Oh!  how  pleasant  would  our 
Lord  and  Master  Jesus  Christ  look  upon  these  People 
at  the  Day  of  Judgment;  when  that  blessed  Son  of 
God  coming  in  the  Clouds  who  hath  the  Person  of  a 
Man,  but  the  Power  of  God,  being  Crowned  with  Dig- 
nities and  Guarded  with  Angels  and  Inraged  with 
Anger  to  all  those  that  Disobeyed  his  Laws:  But  on 
the  other  Side,  how  pleasant  will  his  Countenance  be 
to  those  that  have  Obeyed  his  Laws  in  this  World  to 
their  utmost  of  their  Capacity,  and  I  beg  of  you  to 
meditate  on  Judgment,  and  likewise  I  beg  for  the 
Lord's  Sake  to  Pray  for  me  and  mine  that  we  may 
walk  in  the  way  that  is  pleasing  in  his  Sight. 

To  which  End,  let  us  grow  in  Grace,  and  in  the 
Knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  that 
to  him,  and  to  the  Father  by  him  there  may  be  thanks 
and  Glory  given,  both  now  and  forever,  Amen. 

Which  is  the  desire  of  your  Friend  &  Servant  to 
Command  in  Jesus  Christ. 

GRIFFIN  JENKINS.' 

(33)  Ejaculation  I. 

Lord,  we  again  lift  up  our  Eyes, 

And  leave  our  sluggish  Beds, 
But  why  we  wake,  or  why  we  rise, 

Comes  seldom  in  our  Heads, 
Is  it  to  sweat  and  toil  for  Wealth, 


1  GRIFFIN  JENKINS.— Nothing  is  known  of  this  individual,  but  from  the  manner 
his  letter  is  referred  to,  at  different  times,  in  the  Proprietor's  publications,  it  is 
evident  that  its  purport  excited  some  apprehension  in  their  minds.— ED. 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS. 

To  sport  our  Time  away, 
That  thou  preserv'st  us  in  Health, 

And  giv'st  us  this  new  Day? 
No,  no,  unskilful  Soul,  not  so, 

Be  not  deceived  with  Toys; 
Thy  Lord's  Commands  more  nice  do, 

And  aim  at  higher  Joys. 
They  bid  us  wake  to  seek  new  Grace, 

And  some  fresh  Virtue  gain; 
They  call  us  up  to  mend  our  Pace, 

Till  we  the  Prize  attain. 
That  glorious  Prize  for  which  all  run. 

Who  wisely  spend  their  Breath; 
Who,  when  this  weary  Life  is  done. 

Are  sure  of  Rest  in  Death. 
Not  such  a  Rest  as  here  we  prove, 

Disturb'd  with  Cares  and  Fears, 
But  endless  Joy,  and  Peace,  and  Love, 

Unmix'd  with  Grief  and  Tears. 

(34)  Ejaculation  II. 

Why  do  we  seek  Felicity 

Where  'tis  not  to  be  found? 
And  not,  dear  Lori  look  up  to  thee 

Where  all  delights  abound? 
Why  do  we  seek  our  Treasure  here 

On  this  false  barren  Sand, 
Where  nought  but  empty  Shells  appear, 

And  Marks  of  Shipwreck  stand? 
0  world,  how  little  do  thy  Joys 

Concern  a  Soul  that  knows 
It  self  not  made  for  such  low  Toys 

As  thy  poor  Hand  bestows? 
How  cross  art  thou  to  that  Design 

For  which  we  had  our  Breath? 
We  who  were  made  in  Heav'n  to  shine, 
20 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Thou  bowest  down  to  Earth. 
Nay,  to  thy  Hell,  for  thither  sink 

All  that  to  thee  submit; 
Thou  strow'st  some  Flowers  011  the  Brink 

To  drown  us  in  the  Pit. 
World,  take  away  thy  Tinsel  Wares 

That  dazel  here  our  Eyes; 
Let  us  ascend  above  the  Stars, 

Where  all  our  Treasures  Ives. 


35)  Ejaculation  III. 

Let  others  take  their  Course, 

And  sing  what  Name  they  please; 
Let  Wealth  or  Beauty  be  their  Themes, 

Such  empty  Sounds  as  these. 
For  me  I'll  ne'er  admire 

A  Lump  of  burnish'd  Clay. 
Howe'er  it  shines  it  is  but  Dust, 

And  shall  to  Dust  decay. 
Sweet  Jesus  is  his  Name 

My  Song  shall  still  adore, 
Sweet  Jesus  is  the  charming  Word 

That  Does  my  Life  restore. 
When  I  am  dead  in  Grief, 

Or,  which  is  worse,  in  Sin, 
I  call  on  Jesus,  and  he  hears, 

And  I  to  live  begin. 
Down  then,  down  both  my  knees, 

Most  humbly  to  the  Ground, 
While  with  mine  Eyes  and  Voice  lift  up 

Aloud  these  Lines  I  sound. 
Live  gracious  King  of  Heaven, 

By  all  in  Heaven  ador'd; 
Live  gracious  Saviour  of  the  World, 

Our  chief  and  only  Lord. 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          291 


(36)  Ejaculation  IV. 

My  God,  had  I  my  Breath  from  thee, 

This  Pow'r  to  speak  and  sing, 
And  shall  my  Voice,  and  shall  my  Song, 

Praise  any  but  their  King? 
My  God,  had  I  my  Soul  from  thee, 

This  Power  to  judge  and  chuse. 
And  shall  my  Brain,  and  shall  my  Will, 

Their  best  to  thee  refuse: 
Alas!  not  this  alone,  nor  that, 

Hast  thou  bestow 'd  on  me, 
But  all  I  have,  and  all  I  hope, 

I  have  and  hope  from  thee. 
And  more  I  have,  and  more  I  hope, 

Than  I  can  speak  or  think, 
The  Blessings  still  refresh,  then  fill, 

Then  overflow  the  Brink. 
But  tho'  my  Voice  and  Fancy  be 

Too  low  to  reach  thy  Praise, 
Yet  both  extol  thy  glorious  Name 

As  high  as  they  can  raise. 

Ejaculation  V. 

Open  thine  Eyes,  my  Soul,  and  see 
Once  more  the  Light  returns  to  thee; 

(37)  Look  round  about,  and  chusc  the  Way 
Thou  mean'st  to  travel  o'er  this  Day. 
Think  on  the  Dangers  thou  may'st  meet, 
And  always  watch  thy  sliding  Feet; 
Think  where  thou  once  hast  fall'n  before, 
And  mark  the  Place,  and  fall  no  more. 
Think  on  the  Helps  thy  God  bestows, 
And  strive  to  steer  thy  Life  by  those; 
Think  on  the  Sweets  thy  Soul  did  feel 
When  thou  didst  well,  and  do  so  still. 


2         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Think  on  the  pains  that  shall  torment 
These  stubborn  Men  that  ne'er  repent; 
Think  on  the  Joys  that  wait  above 
To  crown  the  Head  of  holy  Love. 
Think  what  at  last  will  be  thy  Part 
If  thou  goest  on  where  now  thon  art; 
See  Life  and  Death  set  .thee  to  chuse, 
One  thou  must  take,  and  one  refuse. 
0  gracious  Lord,  guide  thou  my  Course, 
And  draw  me  on  with  thy  sweet  Force, 
•  Still  make  me  walk,  still  make  me  tend, 
By  thee  my  Way,  to  thee  my  End. 

FINIS. 
[New  York,  Printed  by  J.  Zenger,  Jun.,  1745-6.] 


Communication    of  the    Rioters  about   the   Riot   in 

Newark. 

[From  New  York  Post-Boy,  February  17th.  1745-6.) 

Mr.  Parker, 

Divers  Persons  having  seen  in  your  Post-Boy  of  Jan- 
uary 20th,  an  Account  of  an  extraordinary  Kiot  at 
Newark,  &c.  touching  three  Persons  committed  to 
Jail,  whereof  one  was  Nehemiah  Baldwin,  who  it  is 
said,  offered  to  give  Bail;  pursuant  unto  which  the 
Sheriff  was  about  carrying  Jiim  to  the  Judge,  &c. 
This  Matter  is  not  put  in  a  true  Light;  The  said  Bald- 
win, as  well  as  the  other  two,  had  Offer  made  by  the 
Sheriff,  if  they  would  give  Bail,  they  might  all  be  dis- 
charged; to  which  they  all  refused.  And  as  is  further 
said,  a  great  Number  of  People  appearing  with  Cud- 
gels from  the  back  Settlements,  &c.  Take  the  reply, 
in  the  following  Narative,  containing  and  setting 
forth  the  Reasons  why  People  were  so  exasperated. 
Whereas  sundry  of  the  Proprietors,  so  called,  had  in 


174f>]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          293 

the  late  Years  of  43,  and ,44,  sent  about  and  surveyed 
almost  all  the  unimproved  Lands  in  the  Country  of 
Essex,  with  a  great  Number  of  Improvements  and  set- 
tled Plantations,  particularly  above  the  Mountain  to 
Passaick  River,  including  Mr.  Van  Gesin's  Purchase, 
so  called,  and  all  Horseneck  Purchase,  with  the  Im- 
provements and  Settlements,  to  the  Number  of  three 
or  four  Score  Plantations  and  Families,  &c.  who  in  the 
general,  having  bought  their  Lands  of  or  from  the 
native  Owners  and  Proprietors  of  the  same,  and  pos- 
sessed it,  many  of  them  some  Scores  of  Years,  tho't 
their  Properties  secure  from  any  Invasion;  when  said 
Proprietors,  so  called,  selling  some  of  the  Lands  sur- 
veyed as  aforesaid,  and  offering  the  rest  to  Sale;  and 
withal  serving  several  Ejectments  on  the  Long  pos 
sessed  as  aforesaid,  threatening  to  dispossess  one  and 
all,  who  would  not  yield  their  Right  and  comply  with 
their  unreasonable  Demands;  and  moreover  to  make 
all  Persons  in  said  County  and  Country,  who  had  Pat- 
ents, &c.  pay  to  them  Quit-Rents,  to  the  Value  of  30 
or  4o,ooo  Pounds,  &c.  These  things  so  animated  the 
People  to  stand  by  and  for  their  Rights,  Privileges  and 
Properties,  that  in  order  to  secure  and  defend  them  in 
a  due  regular  Manner,  they,  in  February,  1 744,  chose 
a  Committee  to  act  for  them,  in  such  Negotiations  as 
might  be  thought  proper,  to  transmit  their  Affairs  and 
Circumstances  home  to  England,  and  lay  them  before 
His  Majesty  King  George  in  Council,  &c.  Upon  this 
Motion  or  Design  manifested,  said  Proprietors  redupli- 
cate their  Processes  by  Ejectments,  &c.  The  Com- 
mittee aforesaid.  March  -27th,  sent  several  of  their 
Number  to  wait  on  Mr.  O[gde]n  (a  Person  con- 
cerned in  the  Affaire  relating  to  Horseneck,  <fr.)  who 
offered,  if  they  would  pleased  to  take  any  one  or  two 
particular  Cases  relating  to  said  purchase  (or  any  other 
they  had  by  Delegation  Concern  in  &  for)  they  would 
join  Issue  with  them  in  the  Law  for  a  Trial;  in  con- 


294          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

sideration  they  might  have  Liberty  of  appeal  home  to 
England,  if  Occasion  offered,  &c.  and  the  like  Propo- 
sal or  Offer  was  made  again  by  Messrs  J\oli]n  L\o\w, 
Esq:  and  J[oli)n  C[ondz]t,  in  the  Name  of  the  Com- 
mittee, to  Messrs.  A[lexande]r,  M[orri]s,  and  0[gde]n 
Esqrs.  at  Perth  Amboy,  when  sent  thither  to  treat  with 
them  on  that  Affair;  But,  in  short,  all  their  Proposals 
were  rejected,  and  they  return,  with  this  Declaration, 
viz.  That  they  would  not  stop  their  Processes  for  two, 
three,  nor  yet  ten  Cases  of  Actions,  if  they  were 
answered  in  the  Law,  &c.  Afterward  came  a  Pro- 
posal or  Offer,  from  Mr.  0[gde]n  to  said  Committee, 
viz.  of  making  or  giving  them  Allowance  of  Eighteen 
Months  for  effecting  the  Business  on  foot,  relating  to 
the  Purchases;  in  Consideration  said  Committee  would 
become  obligated  to  deliver  up  all  the  purchased  Lands 
and  Possessions  they  laid  Claim  unto,  into  their  Hands 
at  the  Expiration  of  said  Term  of  18  Months,  if  their 
Purchases  or  Grants  were  not  then  established.  To 
which,  Reply  was  made,  that  in  Case  they  complied 
with  said  Proposals,  &c.  would  they  be  obliged  to 
make  a  Redelivery  of  the  Premises,  if  after  said  Term 
limitted,  the  purchased  Rights  should  be  established  or 
confirmed  at  home?  to  which  Mr.  0[gde]n  answered 
negatively.  Soon  after  which  they  began  again  the 
Invasion  of  Men's  Rights,  Properties  and  Possessions: 
For  one  Samuel  Baldwin  having  been  for  many  Years 
possessed  of  Land  lying  within  Van  Gesin's  Grant,  or 
Purchase  aforesaid  (which  the  Proprietors  had  surveyed 
as  above)  and  (as  he  was  wont)  cutting  some  Logs 
thereon  for  his  Saw-mill,  &c.  they  arrested  him  to  the 
Supream  Court,  put  him  in  Jail,  and  made  30. or  40 
Writs  more,  (as  it  was  said)  to  serve  on  Men,  for  such 
like  Trespasses,  as  they  call  'em.  This  Baldwin  being 
one  of  the  Committee  aforesaid,  the  rest  of  that  Num- 
ber determined  to  bail  him,  and  stand  Trial,  &c.  But 
the  People  in  general  supposing  the  Design  of  the  Pro- 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          295 

prietors  was  to  ruin  them  (which  they  well  knew, 
should  they  prosecute  and  succeed  according  to  thfii 
Threats,  &c.  would  he  the  Consequence)  and  by  Mul- 
tiplicity of  Law-Suits  and  Expence,  thereby  to  impov- 
erish and  weaken  them,  that  they  should  not  be  able 
to  prosecute  their  Design  (of  sending  home)  to  Effect; 
and  withal,  supposing  they  could  not  live  under  such 
Oppressions,  which,  (as  it  is  said)  makes  wise  Men  mad; 
they  went  to  the  Prison,  opened  the  Door,  took  out 
Baldwin,  and  returned  peaceably,  ordering  the  Breach 
made  to  be  well  mended;  which  was  done  accordingly. 
Note,  The  Ground  of  the  above  Supposition,  (besides 
what  has  been  offered)  was  this;  a  certain  Gentleman 
of  the  adverse  Party,  discoursing  concerning  a  certain 
Bill  to  be  exhibited  in  Chancery,  relating  to  their 
Affairs  with  Elizabeth  Town;  declared,  if  they  could 
once  make  their  Matters  bear,  to  bring  in  said  Bill;  it 
would  put  a  Stop  to  Elizabeth  Town's  Proceeding,  by 
Reason  the  Expence  would  be  so  great,  they  could 
never  take  it  out,  &c.  Thus  you  have  a  brief  Hint  of 
the  Grounds  or  Causes  why  People  have  been  so  exas 
perated:  We  will  only  add  in  a  Word  what  some  of  us 
has  met  with,  set  forth  as  a  Reason  for  their  sending 
home,  viz.  That  the  Invasion  of  our  just  Rights,  Prop- 
erties and  Possessions,  in  and  by  the  Oppressions  and 
Frauds  of  the  Proprietors,  so  called,  is  the  only  Spring 
of  our  Motion  in  the  Matter  of  Complaint  offered:  it 
being  notoriously  known,  how  they  impose  upon,  or 
rather  deceive  and  beguile  innocent,  weak  and  ignorant 
Men,  many  and  diverse  Ways;  and  that  when  or  after 
they,  or  some  of  them,  have  sold  Lands  to  Persons 
under  Colour  of  Right,  &c.  others  under  the  like  Pre- 
tence of .  Proprietie,  have  again,  or  after wanls,  sold  the 
same  Lands;  whereby  the  Purchasers  are  not  onlv 
frauded,  but  even  the  whole  Country  is  in  Confusion. 
But  to  pass  this;  Tis  said  further,  That  said  Nehemiah 
Baldwin  was  rescued  from  the  Sheriff,  contrary  to  his 


296          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

own  desire  which  is  absolutely  false,  by  his  own  Word, 
&c.  And  as  is  further  said,  The  Sherif  retreated  to  the 
Jail  where  he  raised  30  Men  of  the  Militia,  with  their 
Officers,  in  order  to  guard  it:  We  conceive  this  was  done 
before,  viz.  at  their  Commitment.  And  as  'tis  said,  the 
Mob,  as  'tis  called,  increased  to  300,  &c.  it  is  supposed 
they  were  strong,  besides  as  great,  or  a  greater  Num- 
ber, who  were  coming  the  Night  following,  and  the 
next  Day,  in  order  to  join  them.  Again,  They  marched 
up  to  the  Prison,  and  took  out  the  other  two,  &c.  But 
touching  what  is  inserted  concerning  Prisoners  for 
Debt,  &c.  the  Truth  is  one  William  Grant,  Stone 
Cutter,  being  put  or  thrust  in,  a  few  Minutes  before 
the  Mob,  as  they  are  called,  opened  the  Door,  by  that 
Means  made  his  Escape.  Note,  The  said  Grant  was 
there  a  Prisoner  at  large,  and  then  desired  they  would 
shut  him  up:  Moreover,  the  said  Grant  had  taken  the 
Oath,  according  to  the  Act  of  Assembly  of  this  Prov- 
ince, for  Relief  of  poor  distressed  Prisoners  for  a  Debt 
under  5  1.  And  finally,  what  is  said  of  several  Persons 
being  wounded  &  bruis'd,  and  especially,  of  one  sup- 
posed past  Recovery;  it  is  so  far  from  the  Truth,  that 
there  is  not  one  Man  'either  of  the  Guard,  or  of  the 
Mob,  as  they  please  to  call  them,  that  is  any  ways 
dangerously  wounded;  no  not  so  much  as  to  let  them 
from  their  Work  and  Business.  A  good  Providence 
surely!  May  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  whose  Blessing  is  on 
his  People,  and  who  will  arise  for  the  Safety  and  Se- 
curity of  the  oppressed  Poor,  and  crush'd  needy  Ones, 
bring  Good  out  of  all  this  Evil!  May  his  Name  have 
Praise,  and  his  People  Peace,  so  long  as  Sun  and  Moon 
shall  endure.  This  is  the  Hearts  Desire  and  Prayer  of 
us,  who  (whatever  we  may  be  called  by  our  Adversa- 
ries) do  assert,  we  are  the  dutiful  and  loyal  Subjects  of 
His  Majesty  King  George,  and  faithful  Friends  to  our 
Country,  even  Thousands  of  us, 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  29? 


A  Publication  of  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors — relatiny 
to  the  riots. 

(From  Papers  of  Ferdinand  John  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library . 
Books  O  and  P,  and  Elizabethtown  Bill  in  Chancery.) 

By  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern 
Division  of  New-Jersey,  met  at  Perth- 
Amboy,  the  25th  Day  of  March,  1746,  in 
Behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of  the 
General  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern-Division 
of  New-Jersey,  whom  they  represent. 

It  is  with  Concern  we  see  in  the  publick  Papers,  that 
in  September  last  the  Goal  of  Newark  was,  in  a  riot- 
ous Manner  broke  open,  and  a  Person  rescued  from 
thence,  who  had  been  committed  on  a  common  Writ 
of  Trespass,  upon  his  refusing  to  give  Bail,  or  an 
Appearance  thereto:  And  that  afterwards,  upon  the 
apprehending  of  some  of  the  Rioters,  another  Riot  was 
committed  in  January  last,  in  which  the  Goal  of  New- 
ark was  again  broke  open,  and  the  Prisoners  therein 
rescued:  And  we  have  more  Reason  to  he  concerned, 
as  we  find  by  the  New- York  Weekly  Post-Boy,  of  the 
17th  of  February  last,  and  by  a  printed  Paper,  signed 
Griffin  Jenkins,  the  General  Proprietors  are  traduced 
as  the  Cause  of  those  Riots,  in  Expressions  unbecom- 
ing any  Men  to  use  towards  those  from  whom,  under 
the  Crown  of  England,  all  the  Freeholders  of  East  Jer- 
sey do  derive  their  Titles  to  their  Lands,  and  which, 
we  are  well  assured,  no  Man  of  Reputation  would  use, 
and  at  the  saim-  Time  put  his  Name  to  what  he  says: 
We  have  thcivt'oiv  thought  proper  to  publish  what 
follows,  in  order  to  obviate  the  Mischiefs  that  may 
arise  from  such  daring  Practices,  and  that  the  People 


298          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

of  this  and  the  neighbouring  Provinces,  into  whose 
Hands  those  Papers  may  come,  as  well  as  those  who 
are  at  a  greater  Distance,  may  be  truly  informed  of 
the  Points  in  dispute,  between  these  poor  deluded  Peo- 
ple and  the  General  Proprietors. 

The  Post-Boy  of  the  17th  February  last  insinuates, 
That  the  Persons  in  whose.  Favour  these  Riots  were 
made,  have  a  better  Title  to  the  Lands  in  Dispute, 
than  the  General  Proprietors,  and  those  claiming 
under  them;  that  they  have  been  put  to  great  Expence 
by  many  vexatious  Suits;  that  they  are  prevented 
from  bringing  their  Causes  fairly  before  the  King; 
that  the  Conduct  of  the  General  Proprietors  has  been 
cruel,  harassing  and  vexatious;  and  that  in  the  par- 
ticular Transaction  between  the  Settlers  of  the  Lands 
called  Horse-Neck,  and  the  Persons  claiming  it  under 
the  General  Proprietors,  the  Settlers  have  made  fair 
and  reasonable  Proposals,  and  the  Claimers  have 
rejected  them. 

Now  if  it  can  be  made  appear,  that  these  Rioters 
have  no  good  Title  to  the  contested  Lands;  that  these 
Rioters  in  particular,  have  never  been  put  to  any  or  a 
trifling  Expence  by  Lawsuits;  that  the  Conduct  of  the 
General  Proprietors  has  been  regular,  careful  and 
remarkably  candid  to  every  bona  fide  Purchaser;  that 
any  Persons  with  whom  they  have  been  oblig'd  to  go 
to  Law,  might,  if  they  pleased,  have  brought  their 
Causes  by  Appeal,  before  the  King  in  Council;  and 
that  in  the  Transaction  about  the  Lands  called  Horse- 
Neck,  fair  and  reasonable  Proposals  were  made  by  the 
Claimers  to  the  Settlers,  but  were  rejected :  If  these 
several  Things  can  be  made  appear,  then  it  must  be 
left  to  the  Publick  to  judge  how  grosly  these  poor  Peo- 
ple are  abused,  by  the  Fomentors  of  these  publick  Dis- 
tractions. 

It  is  well  known  and  apparent  by  the  Records  of 
this  Province,  that  in  1664,  before  any  Englishman 


1746J     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          299 

ever  settled  in  this  Province,  King  Charles  the  Second, 
by  Letters  Patents  under  the  Great  Seal  of  England, 
granted  to  his  Brother,  James  Duke  of  York,  a  great 
Tract  of  Land  in  America,  in  Fee,  whereof  New-Jersey 
is  a  Part; — That  the  said  Duke  of  York,  by  Deeds  of 
Lease  and  Release,  in  the  same  Year,  conveyed  the 
Tract  of  Land  now  called  New- Jersey,  in  Fee,  to  John 
fjord  Barclay  and  Sir  George  Carteret;  and  that  after 
the  Dutch  War,  like  Grants  were  again  made  of  New- 
Jersey  in  the  Year  1674; — That  the  said  Sir  George 
Carteret  and  the  Assigns  of  Lord  Barclay,  by  Deed, 
bearing  Date  1st  July,  1676,  divided  New-Jersey 
between  them,  the  Eastern  Part  of  which  was  to 
belong  to  Sir  George  Carteret;  which  Deed  and  Parti- 
tion was  confirmed  by  an  Act  of  General  Assembly 
of  New- Jersey,  passed  in  the  Year  1719; — That  Sir 
George  Carteret,  by  his  last  Will,  bearing  Date  5th 
December,  1678,  devised,  among  other  Things,  to  cer- 
tain Trustees  therein  named,  a  Power  to  sell  Blast 
New -Jersey;  and  that  these  Trustees,  in  Execution  of 
the  Trust  reposed,  and  agreeable  to  the  Powers  given 
them,  did,  by  Deed  dated  2d  February,  1681-2,  convey 
East  New-Jersey,  in  Fee,  to  William  Penn,  Robert 
West,  and  others,  to  the  Number  of  Twelve;  and  that 
each  of  these  Twelve,  by  particular  Deeds,  took  in  a 
Partner,  who  was  to  be  equally  concerned  with  him, 
so  that  East  New-Jersey  l>ecame  vested  in  Twenty- 
four  Persons,  who  have  been  ever  since  called  the 
Twenty-four  Proprietors. 

That  by  an  Instrument  under  the  Hands  and  Seals 
of  almost  all  the  Twenty-four  Proprietors,  a  Council 
of  Proprietors  was  established,  with  Power  to  appoint, 
oversee  and  displace,  all  Officers  necessary  for  the 
Management  of  their  Property;  with  Power  also  to 
take  Care  of  all  Lands  belonging  to  the  General  Pro- 
prietors, to  demise  them  for  Terms  of  Years,  and  to 
appoint  Dividends  thereof;  with  Power  also  to  exam- 


300          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1746 

ine  the  Rights  of  every  particular  Proprietor,  who 
demands  his  Share  of  those  Dividends,  and  to  grant 
Warrants  to  the  Surveyor-General,  for  appropriating 
the  Quantity  due  to  such  Share;  with  Power  also  to 
bring  Suits  against  Intruders  into  and  Trespassers 
upon  the  Lands  of  the  General  Proprietors,  and  in 
general,  to  manage  all  the  Affairs  which  relate  to  the 
said  Proprietors;  which  Council  is  to  consist  of  at 
least,  one  third  Part  of  the  whole  General  Proprietors, 
or  their  Proxies;  and  which  Council,  for  many  Years 
past,  actually  has  consisted  of  that  Number  or  more, 
and  they  have  two  general  Meetings  yearly,  at  Perth - 
Amboy,  immediately  after  the  Supreme  Courts  there. 

This  is  a  short  Abstract  as  well  of  the  Title  of  the 
General  Proprietors,  to  the  Lands  of  East  Jersey,  as 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  present  Council  of  Proprie- 
tors, wherein  all  their  Business  is  done;  and  from 
hence  it  will  appear,  that  they  are  no  Pretenders,  but 
have  a  Right,  not  only  to  call  themselves  Proprietors 
of  East-Jersey,  but  to  be  treated  as  such. 

The  Title  pretended  to,  in  Opposition  to  theirs,  by 
the  Rioters  and  their  Abettors,  is,  That  they  or  their 
Ancestors,  have  possessed  Lands,  by  Purchases  from 
Indians,  stiled  by  them  the  Native  Oiuners  of  the 
Country;  but  no  such  Deeds  appear  any  where  on 
Record,  nor  do  they  tell  us  who  made  these  Purchases, 
nor  from  whom,  nor  when:  Now,  be  these  Purchases 
real  or  pretended;  be  they  by  Conveyances  from  some 
private  foreign  stroling  Indians,  or  from  such  as  lived 
on  the  Lands,  and  might  have  had  some  Pretensions 
to  sell  them;  or  be  the  Purchases  made  for  small  or 
trifling  Sums,  or  for  such  Considerations  as  were  then 
usually  given  to  the  Indians;  or  whether  the  Indians 
had  or  had  not  sold  the  same  Lands  by  former  Con- 
veyances to  others;  be  they,  in  short,  what  they  will, 
the  Matter  with  respect  to  these  Purchases  by  the 
original  Constitution,  Practice  and  Laws  of  this 
ince  stands  clearly  thus; 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         301 

It  is  well  known  and  apparent  by  the  Records,  that 
the  Proprietors,  Lord  Barclay  and  Sir  George  Carteret, 
by  Charters  of  Concessions,  established  the  Constitu- 
tion of  New-Jersey,  and  therein  prescribed  the  funda- 
mental Rules  of  that  Government,  and  the  Rules  and 
Methods  by  which  Property  in  Lands  there  might  be 
acquired;  amongst  which  Rules  one  was,  That,  'all 
'  such  Persons  who  should  transport  themselves  into 

*  the  Province  of  New- Jersey,  within  certain  Times 

*  limited  by  the  said  Concessions,  should  be  intitled  to 

*  Grants  or  Patents  under  the  Seal  of  the  Province,  for 
'  certain  Quantities  of  Acres  in  the  said  Concessions 
'  expressed,  paying  therefore  yearly,  the  Rent  of  one 
'  Half -penny,  sterling  Money,  for  every  Acre  so  to  be 
'granted.'     [Lib  3,  70.  | 

Another  Rule  was,  '  That  all  Lands  should  be  pur- 
'  chased  by  the  Governor  and  Council  from  the  Indians, 
'  from  Time  to  Time,  as  there  should  be  Occasion,  in 
'  the  Name  of  the  Lords  Proprietors;  and  every  Person 
'  settling  was  to  pay  his  Proportion  of  that  Purchase 
'  Money  and  Charges.  [Lib  3,  96. ) 

It's  notorious  also,  and  apparent  by  the  Records  of 
New-Jersey,  that  the  Government  of  that  Province 
was,  pursuant  to  the  said  Concessions,  established  by 
the  said  Proprietors,  and  that  Governors  and  Officers 
were  from  Time  to  Time,  by  them  and  their  Assigns, 
commissionated  for  that  Purpose;  who  for  many 
Years  administred  the  Government,  pursuant  to  the 
said  Concessions,  granted  many  Hundreds  if  not 
Thousands  of  Patents  for  Lands  to  Persons  who  came 
to  settle  in  New-Jersey,  upon  the  Encouragement 
given  by  the  said  Concessions,  rendering  and  paying 
yearly,  the  Rent  of  one  Half-ix.imiy  st«irl.  p'-i  Acre. 

After  the  Division  of  New- Jersey  into  two  Provinces, 
in  1676,  to  wit,  East  New- Jersey  and  West  New -Jer- 
sey, made  by  Sir  George  Carteret  and  the  Assigns  of 
Lord  Barclay,  tho'  the  fundamental  Rule  aforesaid. 


302          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

concerning  Indian  Purchases,  was  generally  observed, 
yet  some  few  Persons  broke  thro'  it,  by  taking  Deeds 
from  the  Indians  in  their  own  Names,  and  not  in  the 
Name  of  the  Lords  Proprietors;  which  induced  the 
Governor,  Council  and  Representatives  of  the  People 
of  East  New-Jersey,  in  General  Assembly  met  (the 
better  to  enforce  that  Rule,  •  and  to  prevent  Sedition 
likely  to  ensue  from  the  Breach  of  it,  as  well  as  Men's 
Titles  being  thereby  rendered  precarious)  in  the  Year 
1683,  to  make  an  Act,  '  forbidding  all  Treaties  with  the 
'  Indians  without  Licence  of  the  Governor,  and  the 
'taking  of  any  Deed  from  them,  but  in  the  Name  of 
*  the  Lords  Proprietors  of  East  New- Jersey,  upon  Pain 
'of  being  prosecuted  as  seditious  Persons,  and  as 
'  Breakers  of  the  King's  Peace,  and  the  publick  Peace 
'and  Safety  of  the  Province.'  As  by  the  Record  of 
the  said  Act  in  Lib.  C.  pag.  52,  Cap.  XVIII.  more 
fully  may  appear. 

It's  also  notorious  and  apparent  by  the  Records,  that 
after  the  Division  aforesaid,  Sir  George  Carteret  and 
his  Assigns,  enjoyed  the  Government  of  East  New- 
Jersey,  and  disposed  of  and  divided  the  Lands  thereof 
according  to  the  said  Concessions  and  Agreements 
amongst  themselves,  and  the  Laws  of  the  Province, 
until  the  Year  1702,  when  they  agreed  with  the  Pro- 
prietors of  West  New-Jersey  to  surrender,  and  did 
together  surrender  their  Governments  to  the  Crown  of 
England,  reserving  all  other  their  Properties,  Rights 
and  Franchises  whatsoever;  whereupon  the  two  Divi- 
sions of  New-Jersey,  became  again  united  into  one 
Province,  the  Government  of  which,  by  the  said  Sur- 
render, belonged  to  the  Crown;  but  the  Right  to  the 
Soil,  and  every  Thing  else  that  passed  to  Lord  Barclay 
and  Sir  George  Carteret,  by  their  Grafts  from  the 
Duke  of  York,  remained  in  their  Assigns  who  made 
the  said  Surrender;  and  by  Concessions  made  by  the 
Crown  at  the  Time  of  the  Surrender  of  the  Proprietors 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERN'OR  LEWIS  MORRIS.  303 

Government,  a  Set  of  Instructions  were  agreed  on,  to 
be  granted  to  all  Governors  who  should  be  appointed 
by  the  Crown  for  the  said  Province  of  New- Jersey ; 
and  which  have  hitherto  been  accordingly  granted; 
and  by  which  Instructions,  amongst  other  Things,  the 
Crown  disclaims  all  Right  to  the  Province  of  New- 
Jersey  other  than  the  Government,  and  owns  the  Soil 
and  Quit-Rents,  &c.  to  belong  to  the  said  General  Pro- 
prietors; and  wherein  the  Governors  are  directed  not 
to  permit  any  other  Person  or  Persons,  besides  the 
said  General  Proprietors,  to  purchase  any  Land  what- 
soever from  the  Indians,  within  the  Limits  of  their 
Grant;  wherein  also  the  Crown  commands  those  Gov- 
ernors, not  only  to  permit  the  Officers  to  be  appointed 
by  the  General  Proprietors,  for  the  Management  of 
their  Properties,  to  execute  their  Offices,  as  the 
Receiver-General,  Recorder  and  Surveyor-General, 
upon  taking  the  Oaths  to  the  Government,  and  giving 
Security  for  the  due  Execution  of  their  Offices,  but 
also  to  aid  and  assist  them  therein;  as  by  so  many  of 
those  particular  Instructions,  as  concern  the  Affairs  of 
the  General  Proprietors,  appearing  on  Record  in  the 
Secretary's  Office  of  New-Jersey,  in  Lib.  F.  ±  fol.  423, 
&c  much  more  fully  may  appear. 

And  the  several  Governors  of  New-Jersey,  under 
the  Crown,  pursuant  to  the  said  Instructions,  from 
time  to  time,  have  administred  the  Oaths  to,  and 
admitted  the  said  Officers  to  the  Execution  of  their 
Offices,  and  seen  Security  given  for  the  due  Execution 
thereof ,  and  notified  it  to  the  People  by  publick  Procla- 
mations, as  by  the  Minutes  of  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil of  New  Jersey  appears. 

It's  also  apparent  by  the  Records  and  by  the  Minutes 
of  the  Governor  and  Council  of  New-Jersey,  that  the 
Exercise  of  the' Government  of  New- Jersey,  remained 
in  the  Proprietors  until  the  14th  Day  of  August,  1703, 
when  Lord  Cornbury  published  his  Commission  from 
Queen  Anne,  to  be  Governor  of  New-Jersey. 


304          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

It's  also  apparent  by  the  Kecords,  and  by  the  first 
Leaf  of  all  the  Editions  hitherto  printed  of  the  Acts  of 
Assembly  of  the  united  Province  of  New- Jersey,  that 
by  the  very  first  Act  of  Assembly,  made  after  the 
Government  came  to  the  Crown,  published  in  Novem- 
ber, 1703,  not  only  all  Indian  Purchases,  which  had 
not  been  made  by  the  Proprietors  before  that  Time, 
are  declared  void  if  they  obtained  not  Grants  for  them 
from  the  General  Proprietors  within  Six  Months,  but 
also  all  who  should  thereafter  make  Purchases  of  the 
Indians  (except  Proprietors,  and  they  too  only  in  the 
Manner  there  prescribed)  should  forfeit  Forty  Shillings 
per  Acre,  for  every  Acre  so  purchased. 

It  is  also  apparent  by  the  Records,  and  by  the  printed 
Acts  of  Assembly,  passed  in  the  Year  1713,  Chap. 
XXXIX.  that  a  Penalty  of  Twenty  Shillings,  Procla- 
mation Money,  is  laid  for  cutting  of  every  Tree  upon 
Land  not  the'  Person's  own,  and  that  as  well  upon 
Lands  belonging  to  the  Proprietors  in  general  as  to 
others  in  particular. 

Possibly  many  of  the  Eioters  being  ignorant  Men, 
and  many  of  them  Strangers  to  the  Province,  and 
since  they  came  to  it  living  retired  in  and  behind  the 
Mountains  of  Newark,  upon  any  Land  they  could  find, 
without  enquiring  who  the  Owner  thereof  was,  have 
of  late  been  animated  and  stirred  up  to  believe,  that 
those  Things  which  the  Laws  of  the  Province  have 
declared  to  be  criminal  and  penal,  were  lawful;  and 
that  those  Crimes  committed,  gave  the  Criminals 
Rights,  Privileges  and  Properties;  but  though  many 
have  been  ignorant  enough  to  be  so  seduced,  we  can- 
not think  that  all  can  with  Truth  plead  that  Excuse; 
some  there  are  amongst  them,  who  tho'  they  may  not 
be  acquainted  with  all  the  Particulars  aforesaid,  yet 
cannot  be  supposed  never  to  have  seen  the  printed 
Laws  of  this  Province,  and  the  first  Leaf  of  them, 
which  has  had  at  least  three  Editions,  making  those 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS    MORRIS.          305 

Pretences  void  and  penal.  The  poor,  deluded,  igno- 
rant People,  we  conceive,  deserve  Pity  and  Compas- 
sion, but  the  Laws  of  the  Province  point  out  the 
Deserts  of  the  Seducers. 

Neither  the  General  Proprietors,  nor  we  their  Repre- 
sentatives, have  to  our  Knowledge,  been  guilty  of  any 
Invasion  of  the  just  Rights,  Properties  or  Possessions  of 
any  of  the  Rioters,  or  of  any  of  the  People  of  New-Jer- 
sey, or  of  imposing  upon  or  beguiling  innocent,  weak 
and  ignorant  Men,  as  in  the  Post-Boy's  Paper  is  averred 
to  be  notoriously  known;  we  have  too  much  Concern  in 
the  Well-being  and  Prosperity  of  New  Jersey,  to  let 
such  a  Thought  enter  into  our  Hearts,  nor  have  we 
been  accessary  to  or  ever  countenanced  any  Fraud  or 
Oppression  by  any  one  or  more  Proprietors. 

But  as  every  Proprietor  has  the  Liberty  of  selling 
his  Propriety  to  whom  he  pleases,  and  in  as  many 
Parts  as  he  pleases,  the  Number  of  the  Proprietors, 
may  be  easily  supposed,  to  have  greatly  augmented; 
among  which  Number,  probably  there  may  be  some 
not  quite  so  honest  as  they  should  be,  as  there's  no 
Law  to  hinder  a  wicked  Man  from  purchasing  a  Share 
of  Propriety,  or  the  Descent  thereof  to  wicked  Heirs; 
but  yet  we  conceive,  that  there's  a  greater  Tye  upon 
them  to  be  honest,  than  upon  any  other  Set  of  Men  in 
this  Province;  because  if  they  are  guilty  of  any  Fraud 
or  Oppression  as  Proprietors,  they  are  not  only  pun- 
ishable by  the  King's  Laws,  as  all  other  Men  are,  but 
also,  upon  Complaint  to  the  Council  of  Proprietors 
of  them,  they  stop  their  Warrants  for  their  Dividends, 
till  they  have  done  Justice  in  every  Thing  wherein 
they  had  deviated  from  it,  as  Proprietors;  of  which 
sundry  Iristances  have  been;  and  the  Knowledge  of 
this  further  Tye  upon  them  beyond  any  other  Set  of 
Men,  maketh  even  Cheats  to  avoid  Tampering  as  to 
their  Rights  of  Propriety,  however  wicked  they  may 
l>e  in  their  other  Dealings  with  Mankind, 


306          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

It  is  possible,  that  by  an  Oversight  in  the  Searching 
of  the  Records,  a  Proprietor  may  very  innocently  get 
appropriated  to  him,  in  Part  of  his  Dividends,  some 
Lands  that  another  Proprietor  had  appropriated  before, 
and  not  knowing  of  that  prior  Appropriation,  sell  it; 
and  if  the  Case  should  be  so,  undoubtedly  the  Person 
who  was  first  legally  vested  with  the  Title  in  Severalty, 
will  and  ought  to  recover  the  Land.  All  the  Regula- 
tions that  the  Council  of  Proprietors  could  think  of  to 
prevent  such  Accidents  have  been  made;  they  allow  of 
but  two  Deputy  Surveyors  in  a  County,  except  in  one 
large  County,  and  these  are  to  communicate  their  Sur- 
veys to  one  another  for  fear  of  interfering;  then  the 
Surveys  are  duely  examined  by  the  Surveyor-General, 
who,  if  he  suspects  such  an  Accident,  stops  them  till 
that  Point  be  enquired  into  and  cleared  up,  and  then 
the  Surveys  are  recorded,  open  to  the  View  of  every 
one,  where  any  Buyer  may  satisfy  himself,  first,  that 
the  Seller  has  it  legally  appropriated  to  him;  and, 
secondly,  may  see,  whether  it  was  legally  appropriated 
to  any  Person  before:  But  of  such  Accidents,  we  con- 
ceive fewer  have  happened,  to  our  Knowledge,  than 
could  well  have  been  expected;  and  where  they  have 
happened,  Justice  has  generally  been  done  to  the 
Buyer,  either  voluntarily,  or  by  Compulsion,  at  Law, 
and  sometimes  by  our  stopping  Dividends  till  Justice 
was  done;  and  that  has  always  been  done  where  ever 
any  one  would  take  that  Course  to  complain  to  us,  or 
where  we  otherwise  got  Notice  of  such  Things. 

We  recollect  no  more  than  three  Cases  where  People 
have  been  injured  by  Sales  by  single  Proprietors, 
where  the  Land  has  after  been  recovered  by  others, 
and  where  the  Sufferers  had  not  or  may  not  have  full 
Redress;  the  Origine  of  two  of  those  Cases  was  about 
the  Year  1709,  when  an  unhappy  Gentleman,  since 
deceased,  then  a  Proprietor,  was  imposed  upon  to  sign 
one  Deed  for  about  One  Hundred  and  Seventy  Thou- 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          307 

sand  Acres  of  Laud,  called  New-Britain,  and  another 
Deed  for  about  Fifty  Thousand  Acres  of  Land  at  Roma- 
pack,  without  any  legal  Appropriation  thereof  to  him, 
and  without  any  Consideration  paid  to  him,  as  ever 
after  during  his  Life  he  averred;  and  that  he  did  not 
dream  or  believe,  that  a  Foot  of  them  was  in  East 
New- Jersey;  to  prove  which,  he  preserved,  and  his 
Representatives  now  have,  sundry  Letters  under  the 
Hand  of  the  principal  Grantee  in  both  those  Deeds, 
which  have  been  given  in  Evidence  in  his  Presence  in 
the  Supreme  Court. 

The  Grantees  of  the  greatest  Tract,  sold  some 
thereof,  which  being  legally  appropriated  by  other 
Proprietors,  they  recovered  against  the  Possessor  about 
25  Years  ago;  and  as  those  Grantees  were  so  cunning 
as  to  give  only  joint  Covenants  to  the  Possessor,  so 
that  they  could  not  be  proceeded  against  at  Law,  for 
the  Recovery  of  his  Damages,  till  all  were  taken;  and 
as  some  lived  out  of  the  Province,  Relief  at  Law  for 
that  Reason,  could  not  be  had;  wherefore  the  Proprie- 
tors who  recovered,  compassionating  the  Man  against 
whom  they  recovered,  stayed  their  Execution,  and  for 
him  and  his  Name  filed  a  Bill  in  Chanceiy  against 
those  Sellers,  to  compel  them  to  pay  the  Costs  of  the 
Suits;  and  all  Monies  paid  by  him  in  Part  of  the  Con- 
sideration Monies,  and  for  his  Defence,  and  to  deliver 
up  his  Bonds  for  the  rest  of  the  Consideration  Money, 
all  which  they  got  done  for  him;  and  upon  the  Pro 
prietors  threatning  to  file  a  Bill  in  Chancery,  to  set 
aside  that  Deed  for  the  Irregularity  and  Fraud  in 
granting  and  obtaining  of  it,  to  prevent  People  from 
being  further  imposed  on  by  it,  they  promised  to  do 
Justice  to  the  few  others,  to  whom  they  had  sold,  by- 
giving  up  their  Bonds:  As  to  the  50,0(>0  Aero  Tract. 
it  lying  very  remote,  the  Proprietors,  till  about  ten 
Years  ago,  had  no  Occasion  to  go  so  far  in  laying  out 
their  Dividends,  when  they  found  that  on  Pretence  of 


308          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

that  Deed,  about  Twenty  People  had  been  imposed 
upon  to  buy;  whereon  Ejectments  were  brought 
against  some  of  them;  and  in  one  of  them  tried,  the 
said  Letters  were  given  in  Evidence,  which  showed 
that  the  said  Deed,  under  which  they  claimed,  was  a 
Fraud;  nor  could  they  show  any  Power  or  Eight  that 
the  Grantor,  tho'  a  Proprietor,  had  to  sell  those  Lands; 
so  that  notwithstanding  that  Deed,  the  Lands  still 
remained  in  common  belonging  to  the  General  Pro- 
prietors, whose  Title  thereto  our  Council  showed,  and 
demurred  to  the  Defendants  Title;  whereupon  the 
Defendants  were  either  obliged  to  join  in  Demurrer, 
or  wave  the  Evidence  demurred  to; — they  waved  their 
Evidence;— gave  no  further  Evidence;— and  so  the 
Jury  went  out  without  any  Evidence  whatsoever  on 
the  Part  of  the  Defendants,  and  yet  they  brought  in  a 
Verdict  for  them,  to  the  Admiration  of  all  who  heard  it. 
We  being  determined  not  to  let  50,000  Acres  of 
the  Property  of  the  General  Proprietors  be  so  wrong- 
fully taken  from  them  by  one  or  more  such  Verdicts, 
were  about  to  have  brought  others  of  the  said  Eject- 
ments to  Trial,  and  to  have  commenced  more;  where- 
on an  Accommodation  was  proposed,  and  we  agreed 
that  for  Twenty  Pound  per  100  Acres  (which  was 
scarcely  the  fourth  Part  of  the  Value  of  the  Lands) 
those  who  had  bona  fide  purchased,  should  be  con- 
firmed in  those  Lands,  by  a  legal  Appropriation  and 
Conveyances  thereof  to  them,  with  absolute  War- 
rantees. The  two  Cases  before,  happened  not  amongst 
the  Rioters;  so  that  they  cannot  complain  they  have 
been  hurt  by  them;  but  the  Scene  of  tho  third  Case, 
we  believe  was  chiefly  amongst  themj  and  the  Fact 
was,  that  one  Jacob  Arents,  not  a  Proprietor,  but  one 
who  had  purchased  a  Right  to  a  certain  Number  of 
Acres  unsurveyed,  in  Part  of  some  of  the  Dividends, 
and  so  he  had  Right  to  have  that  Quantity  survey'd 
where  he  would  chuse,  procured  Deputies  to  survey 


1746J     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          309 

Lands  for  him  on  those  Rights,  imposed  on  some  igno- 
rant People  to  buy  them  of  him,  without  bringing 
those  Surveys  to  the  Surveyor-General  to  be  approved 
of  and  recorded  as  Part  of  his  Right;  so  that  by  this 
Means,  his  Right  was  to  be  like  the  Widow's  Cruse, 
still  selling  it  and  still  the  Whole  remained:  Notice  of 
this  Imposition  coming  to  the  Council  of  Proprietors 
and  sufficient  Proof  of  it  appearing,  they,  on  the  27th 
Day  of  February,  1739,  ordered  an  Advertisement  to 
be  printed  both  in  English  and  Dutch,  to  prevent 
People's  being  further  imposed  on  by  that  Practice  (a 
Copy  of  which  Advertisement  in  English  is  annexed, 
N°  I.')  which  was  accordingly,  for  many  Weeks  suc- 
ceeding, printed  both  in  English  and  Dutch,  in  the 
New- York  Weekly  Journal.  We  believe  several  of 
the  Rioters  and  their  Neighbours  were  injured  by  that 
Man's  Practices,  and  that  without  Redress;  because  he 
had  not  Estate  to  make  Compensation,  and  was  never 
one  of  the  General  Proprietors,  or  intitled  to  any  Divi- 
dends of  Lands  amongst  them,  to  have  Relief  that 
Way: — But  are  we  to  blame  for  this?  Are  not  the 
very  fundamental  Concessions  and  the  Laws  of  the 
Province  obv  ious  to  eveiy  one,  that  no  Survey  can  be 
good,  until  recorded  in  the  proper  Office  for  that  Pur- 
pose? And  Men  must  blame  their  own  Simplicity,  to 

1  No  I. 

Perth  Amboy,  February  27, 17H9. 

Whereas  the  C'ouncil  of  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  New-Jersey,  have 
been  informed,  that  some  undue  Practices  hare  been  committed  by  one  Doctor 
Jacob  Arents,  and  some  other  Persons,  in  taking  upon  them  to  dispose  of  sundry 
Tracts  of  l .ami.  belonging  to  the  General  Proprietors  in  common,  and  not  appro- 
priated to  any  one  by  Patent  or  Survey  recorded,  and  thereby  deceiving  many 
honest  and  well-meaning  People  into  the  purchasing  of  such  Lands.  Now  publick 
Notice  is  hereby  given,  by  Order  of  the  aforesaid  Council  of  Proprietors,  for  the 
preventing  of  any  further  Impositions,  on  the  good  People  of  this  Province,  that 
they  be  wary  how  they  purchase  any  Lands  of  the  aforesaid  Doctor  Jacob 
Arente,  or  any  other  Person,  without  being  fully  convinced  that  the  Lands  by  them 
offered  to  Sale,  have  been  duely  patented  or  surveyed,  and  returned  by  the  Sur- 
veyor-General, and  that  the  Return  of  the  Survey  is  upon  Record;  without  which 
appearing,  they  may  depend  on  it.  that  an  Imposition  is  intended;  and  if  any  Pur- 
chaser neglects  this  Care,  he  is  to  blame  himself  if  he  be  Imposed  on. 

By  Order  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors,  LACK.  SMYTH,  Clerk. 


310          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

think  a  bare  Running  round  of  Land,  with  a  Deputy's 
certifying  he  had  so  done,  could  make  a  Title  to  it: 
It's  this  third  Case  of  Arents  which  we  so  forewarned 
the  People  from  being  imposed  on  by,  that,  we  believe, 
gave  rise  to  those  Pretenders,  mentioned  in  Mr.  Jen- 
kin's  Letter;  and  whether  any  more  such  have  arisen 
we  know  not,  as  they  have  not  come  to  our  Knowledge; 
and  the  Mark  he  gives  of  such  Pretenders  is  a  good 
Sign  to  know  them  by,  viz.  That  they  refuse  to  ivar- 
rant  and  defend  the  Lands  which  they  offer  to  sell; 
for  the  true  Owners  will  never  scruple  giving  that 
Security  to  the  Purchasers;  nor  do  we  know  of  any  of 
the  Proprietors  that  do  ever  refuse  to  warrant  and 
defend;  but  tho'  Sellers  should  be  willing  to  warrant 
and  defend,  yet  we  think  prudent  Men  ought  also  to 
observe  the  Cautions  in  our  said  Advertisement. 

We  know  of  no  other  Cases  that  can  be  assigned  for 
Fifty  Years  past,  where  Recompense  has  not  been  or 
may  not  be  had,  to  make  good  the  Allegations  of  the 
Rioters,  in  the  Post- Boy's  Paper;  nor  do  we  believe  in 
the  Whole  that  Fifty  Persons  in  all  that  Time  have 
been  imposed  on  by  those  three  Cases,  or  any  like 
them  without  Recompense:  which  must  fall  far  short 
of  the  whole  Country,  consisting  of  50,000  People  and 
upwards;  and  we  doubt  much  if  the  same  can  be  said 
of  any  other  Body  of  Men  so  numerous  in  Proportion 
as  the  General  Proprietors;  nor  do  we  believe  it  could 
be  said  of  the  Proprietors  of  East  New- Jersey,  were  it 
not  for  the  stopping  of  Dividends  till  Justice  is  done, 
which,  as  before  is  said,  lays  a  furthur  Tye  upon  them 
than  other  Men  are  subject  to;  but  were  there  more 
People  imposed  on  (we  beg  Leave  to  repeat)  is  it  in  the 
Power  of  the  General  Proprietors  to  hinder  wicked 
Men  from  becoming  Proprietors  along  with  them, 
either  by  Purchase  or  Descent?  And  if  the  Laws  in 
Force  be  not  sufficient  to  punish  wicked  Practices,  the 
Legislature  can  make  what  further  Laws  they  think 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          311 

proper  for  that  Purpose,  in  which  we  should  most 
heartily  join,  were  they  needful;  hut  we  know  of  no 
Defect,  as  the  Laws  fully  point  out  what  is  and  what 
is  not  a  Title;  and  if  People  will  venture  to  buy  Titles 
over  the  Belly  of  the  Laws,  are  not  they  to  blame  and 
not  the  Laws? 

We  never  heard  of  such  a  Purchase  as  Mr.  Van 
Gesin's  Purchase,  or  Horse- Neck  Purchase,  until 
within  these  two  Years,  that  we  have  been  told,  that 
two  such  Deeds  from  some  Indians  had  been  procured, 
bearing  Date  in  or  about  the  Year  1 701 ;  but  by  whom, 
or  from  whom  in  particular  we  have  not  as  yet  learnt: 
We  have  also  lately  heard,  that  about  thirteen  Months 
ago,  the  People  thereabouts  had  procured  an  Indian  to 
come  from  Navesinks,  about  40  or  50  Miles  off,  who 
signed  some  Writings,  while  in  Company  with  the 
Persons  said  to  be  the  Committee  mentioned  in  the 
Paper  in  the  said  Post-Boy;  but  what  these  Writings 
so  executed  were,  was  kept  a  Secret  from  the  Wit- 
nesses; if  they  were  Deeds  of  Lands  from  that  Indian, 
or  the  Deeds  of  what's  called  Mr.  Van  Gesin's  Pur- 
chase, and  Horse- Neck  Purchase,  we  know  not:  But 
if  they  were;  or  be  they  granted  or  dated  at  any  Time 
whatsoever;  its  evident,  that  by  the  Act  of  1703,  they 
are  void;  and  if  done  in  1701,  as  pretended,  its  obvious 
from  the  Act  of  1683,  herein  before  mentioned,  that 
the  Transactors  thereof  were  Criminals,  for  so  treat- 
ing and  accepting  of  Deeds;  and  not  only  so,  but  they 
are  liable  to  the  Penalty  of  40  s.  per  Acre,  for  every 
Acre  bought  of  such  Indian,  after  1703,  as  well  as  to 
the  Penalty  of  20  s.  for  every  Log  or  Tree  by  them  cut 
on  such  Lands  on  Pretence  of  these  Deeds,  or  any 
other  Way,  without  Leave  of  the  Owner;  and  that 
whether  the  Lands  belong  to  the  Proprietors  in  gen- 
eral, or  to  others  in  particular. 

Notwithstanding  what  is  suggested  by  the  Post-Boy 
and  Mr.  Jenkins,  we  are  well  assured,  That  since  the 


312          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1740 

first  Settlement  of  New  Jersey,  there  is  not  one 
Instance  can  be  assigned  of  any  Breach  of  Peace  with 
the  Indians  thereof,  (tho'  very  few  of  the  other  Prov- 
inces can  say  so  as  to  their  Indians)  nor  that  any  Pro- 
prietor ever  presumed  to  dispossess  one  of  them,  or 
disturb  him  in  his  Possession;  but  have  always  amica- 
bly paid  them  for  their  Claims,  from  time  to  time,  as 
they  could  agree  with  them;  nor  was  the  Crown,  nor 
the  Legislature  of  the  Province  of  New-Jersey,  now 
for  Four  Score  Years  past,  since  the  Settlement  of  this 
Province,  ever  put  to  one  Penny  of  Charge  or  Expence, 
for  keeping  the  Indians  thereof  in  Peace,  in  Bounties, 
Presents,  or  otherwise;  which  is  well  known  to  be  far 
otherwise  in  other  Provinces,  and  may  and  probably 
will  soon  be  otherwise  here,  if  some  late  Tamperings 
with  the  Indians  thereof  be  neglected  and  past  over 
with  Impunity.  But  if  it  be  true,  what  the  Eioters 
pretend,  that  they  have  bought  the  Indians  Right; 
then  have  the  Indians  no  Right  to  those  Lands;— and 
if  the  Buyers  have  possessed  the  Lands  one  Score 
instead  of  some  Scores  of  Years,  as  they  say  they  have 
done;  the  mean  Profits  they  have  reaped  of  them,  may 
reasonably  be  esteemed  much  above  five  Times  the 
Value  of  the  Purchase  Money  (unless  they  bought  at  a 
Rate  much  dearer  than  has  been  usual.)  But  if  they 
had  not  reaped  so  much;  yet  what  Right  the  Rioters 
acquired  by  those  Purchases,  and  what  Rewards  are 
due  to  them  for  so  purchasing,  the  Acts  of  1  ti83,  and 
1703,  declare;  and  on  producing  their  Purchase-Deeds, 
its  presumed  those  Rewards  will  not  be  kept  back  from 
them. 

And  tho1  the  Proprietors  are,  by  the  fundamental 
Rule  aforesaid,  to  purchase  from  the  Indians  from 
time  to  time,  as  there  should  be  Occasion;  yet  they 
know  of  no  other  Limitation  of  Time  for  that  Purpose, 
than  before  they  enter  on  any  Indian  Possession. 

We  are  sorry  to  say,  that  tho'  there  has  constantly 


1746]     A'DMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRI8.          313 

been  Receiver  Generals  appointed  by  the  General  Pro- 
prietors, and  those  duly  admitted  by  the  Government, 
pmsuant  to  the  Royal  Instructions  aforesaid,  and 
notified  by  publick  Proclamations;  yet  there  has  of 
late  been  a  great  Backwardness  in  paying  to  them  the 
Quit-Rents;  but  the. whole  Arrears  thereof  due,  in  the 
whole  Province  of  New-Jersey,  we  do  not  believe 
(should  the  Account  be  stated)  would  amount  to 
-£.15,000. 

We  know  of  no  Confusion  in  this  Province,  but 
what  the  Rioters  and  their  Accomplices  have  made, 
and  are  animating  the  People  to  make,  upon  the  false 
and  unfair  Suggestions  in  the  Post-Boy's  Paper,  in 
hopes  to  wrest  from  the  General  Proprietoi-s  both  their 
Rents  and  Lands,  and  to  set  up  sham  Deeds  procured 
from  strolling  Indians,  for  a  few  Bottles  of  Rum,  or 
such  Considerations,  in  place  of  the  Title1  of  the  Crown 
of  England  to  the  Lands  of  New-Jersey;  an  Attempt 
so  daring,  that  they  cannot  hope  to  succeed  in  it,  with- 
out not  only  oversetting  the  fundamental  Laws  and 
Constitutions  confirmed  by  many  Acts  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  New- Jersey;  but  also  withdrawing  their 
Allegiance  from  the  Crown  of  England,  which  must 
support  its  own  Title  to  New-Jeisey,  as  well  as  to  its 
other  Provinces.  —  How  unequal  to  that  Task  are 
those  poor  deluded  Men,  who  have  been  led  into  the 
Committing  those  Riots,  they  must  soon  see,  if  they'll 
give  themselves  the  least  Time  to  reflect!  —  So  deluded 
are  they  to  presume,  and  so  impudent  are  their 
Seducers,  to  make  Appeals  to  God,  and  demand  his 
Blessings  on  their  Crimes  and  Breaches  of  the  Laws  of 
the  Province;  and  to  assert  themselves  to  be  the  King's 
dutiful  and  loyal  Subjects,  while  breaking  his  Goals, 
and  trampling  his  Authority  and  Laws  under  Foot. 

Tho'  neither  the  General  Proprietors  nor  their  Coun- 
cil were  privy  to  the  Treaties  hinted  at  in  the  Post- 
Boy's  Paper,  or  concerned  in  any  Ejectments  or  Suits 


314         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

there  mentioned;  yet  as  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Mor- 
ris, supposed  to  be  the  two  Persons  meant  by  the 
Letters  A — r  and  M — s,  were  privy  to  them,  and  are 
two  of  our  Body,  we  have  desired,  and  they  have  given 
us  an  Account  of  what  concerns  them,  as  follows,  viz. 
They  say,  and  it  appears  to  us  by  the  Records  in  Lib. 
0.  212,  and  Lib.  G.  368,  that  there  was  in  June,  1701, 
the  Quantity  of  13,500  Acres  of  Land  surveyed  and 
patented  at  Horse-Neck,  to  Sir  John  Moore,  Knight, 
Sir  Thomas  Lane,  Knight  and  Alderman  of  London, 
and  other  Proprietors,  in  and  about  London,  commonly 
known  and  called  by  the  Name  of  the  New-Jersey 
Society,  in  Right  of  their  second  Dividend  for  two 
Proprieties  and  a  half,  or  Twenth-fourth  Parts  of  East 
New-Jersey.  They  say  also,  that  by  deed  recorded 
Lib.  AB.  2,  fol,  106,  in  the  Office  of  the  Proprietors 
Recorder,  'and  in  Lib.  F.  2,  fo.  376,  in  the  Secretary's 
Office  at  Perth- Amboy,  they  with  Mr.  David  Ogden, 
purchased  the  said  Tract  of  Land,  in  the  Name  of  Mr. 
Alexander,  having  many  Months  before  agreed  for 
the  Purchase;  that  after  the  Purchase  was  agreed  for, 
they  caused  the  said  Tract  of  Land  to  be  carefully  sur- 
veyed; and  found  35  Families  settled  thereon,  whereof 
several  were  bona  fide,  Purchasers  from  other  Proprie 
tors  about  30  Years  ago,  under  mistaken  later  Appro- 
priations interfering  with  the  said  Tract;  and  as  to  all 
those,  except  one,  they  have  agreed  with  the  Heirs  of 
the  Vendors  to  confirm  the  Heirs  of  the  Purchasers; 
which  one  they  are  in  hopes  they  shall  in  like  Manner 
agree  with;  and  as  to  the  remaining  People,  settled 
without  any  Title,  they  offered  the  Refusal  of  either 
leasing  or  buying  the  Spots  they  were  settled  on,  with 
Covenants  to  warrant  and  defend  the  Purchasers  and 
Lessees  against  all  Persons;  and  many  of  them  treated 
with  Mr.  Ogden  for  that  Purpose,  and  he  thought  they 
had  agreed;  but  afterwards  finding  the  People  spirited 
up  to  depart  from  those  Agreements,  Mr.  Ogden,  in 


1746]    ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          315 

behalf  of  himself  and  Partners,  wrote  a  Letter  to  them 
on  the  22d  of  December,  1744,  whereof  N°  II.'  is  a 
Copy,  and  had  six  Copies  ot  it  delivered  amongst 
them,  with  Request  to  communicate  it  to  the  rest. 
Afterwards,  to  wit.  January  20th,  1744-5,  the  Partners 
agreed  to  write  another  Letter  to  them,  whereof  five 
Copies  were  sent  to  so  many  of  the  most  leading  Men 
to  show  to  the  rest,  two  of  which  only  were  received, 
the  other  three  being  refused. 

It's  by  a  Letter  of  March  2d,  1744,  from  Mr.  Ogden, 
that  his  other  then  Partners  say,  they  had  the  first 
Notice  (that  they  remomber)  that  the  People  pre- 
tended to  hold  by  an  Indian  Title;  from  whom  this 
Indian  Title  was,  or  when  granted,  no  Infonnatton 
was  had;  but  that  they  were  absolutely  determined 
not  to  lease  or  buy,  but  to  depend  on  some  Indian 
Title:  Whereon  it  was  agreed,  that  Mr.  Ogden  should 
cause  some  of  the  most  leading  Men  to  be  served  with 
Declarations  in  Ejectment,  at  the  same  Time  acquaint- 


«  NO.  n. 

Sir,  Newark,  December  22, 1744. 

Having  often  attempted  an  Agreement  with  several  of  you,  living  on  the  Tract  of 
Land  at  Horseneck,  purchased  by  us  James  Alexander,  Robert  Hunter  Morris, 
Esqrs.  and  David  Ogden,  and  even  after  Proposals  have  boon  more  than  once  con- 
sented to  by  many  of  you,  the  same  have  been  afterwards  denied,  to  our  great 
Expence;  and  now  are  informed,  that  you  dispute  our  having  any  Right  to  that 
Land ;  which  lays  us  under  the  Necessity  of  having  our  Affairs  settled  with  you  out 
of  hand;  and  in  order  thereto,  make  the  following  Pi-O|K>sals,  First,  either  that  each 
of  you  take  a  Lease  from  us,  for  one  Year,  without  paying  any  Rent  for  your 
Farms,  and  then  to  deliver  us  the  Possessions:  •-'<!.  Or  that  each  of  you  take  a  Lease 
for  three  Years,  commencing  the  first  Day  of  December  Instant,  each  paying  the 
yearly  Rent  of  his  Farm,  the  Sum  affixed  to  his  Name  in  the  first  Column  of  the 
Inclosed  Paper;  3d,  Or  that  you  purchase  from  us,  sufficient  for  a  Farm  or  Planta- 
tion where  each  of  you  live,  at  the  Rate  likewise  affixed  for  every  Acre,  to  each  of 
your  Names  in  the  second  Column  of  the  Writing  inclosed. 

As  this  Tract  of  Land  has  cost  us  a  great  Sum  of  Money,  and  the  Interest  thereof 
daily  arising  is  vary  considerable,  our  full  Purpose  is,  not  to  be  trifled  with  any 
longer;  therefore  we  expect  a  speedy  Compliance,  with  some  one  of  the  above 
three  Proposals;  pray  inform  your  Neighbours  living  on  said  Tract  with  this  Let- 
ter, and  also  with  the  inclosed  Writing;  so  that  if  any  of  them  be  put  to  Costs  for 
their  Non-Compllance  with  some  one  of  said  Proposals,  it  may  not  arise  from  Want 
of  Notice  thereof  from 

Your  humble  Servant,  DAVID  OCDEX, 

To  Mr.  Francis  Spier,  and  others  living  For  James  Alexander,  Robert  Hunter 

on  the  Society's  Patent,  at  Horseneck.  Morris,  Esqrs.  and  himself. 


316          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

ing  them,  that  if  they  agreed  to  any  of  the  Proposals 
of  the  Letter  of  December  22d,  that  the  Partners 
would  be  at  all  the  Costs  of  those  Suits. 

At  or  near  the  Day  appointed  by  the  Letter,  N°  III. 
Messieurs  John  Low  and  John  Condit,  met  with  the 
then  Partners  at  Perth- Amboy,  but  brought  no  Coun- 
cil at  Law  with  them,  as  by  that  letter  was  desired; 
however  the  Partners  showed  them  their  Title,  and 
told  them,  they  were  ready  to  comply  with  either  of 
the  Proposals  in  the  Letter  of  December  22d;  which 
they  refused  to  accept :  And  Messieurs  Alexander  and 
Morris,  declare  they  remember  not  their  proposing  to 
join  Issue  in  any  one  or  two  particular  Cases  for  a 
Tryal,  in  Consideration  they  might  have  Liberty  of 
Appeal  home  for  England;  and  they  conceive  the  Pro- 
posal, if  any  such  had  been,  would  have  been  idle  in  it 
self,  seeing  they  could  not  hinder  them  to  join  Issue 
in  what  Causes  they  pleased  to  defend,  nor  could  they 
debar  or  hinder  them  of  an  Appeal  to  England,  if  the 
Defendants  thought  proper  to  make;  and  they  say, 
they  do  not  remember  that  those  Gentlemen  ask'd  of 
them  to  stay  Proceeding  in  the  other  Ejectments;  but 
if  they  had  so  ask'd  them,  it's  more  than  probable  that 
they  refused  to  comply  with  that  Request,  as  110 
Ejectment  against  one  could  any  Way  affect  any 
other  Person ;  and  to  have  consented  to  proceed  against 
only  one  or  two  Persons  at  a  Time,  and  when  those 
were  determined,  to  proceed  against  another  one  or 
two;  while  in  the  mean  Time  the  Defendants  were 
cutting  and  destroying  their  Timber  and  Land  at  their 
Pleasure,  they  think  would  have  been  an  unreasonable 
Demand,  and  would  have  been  a  Folly  in  them  to  have 
consented  to. 

They  say,  that  having  heard  that  an  Indian  from 
Navesinks,  had,  a  few  Weeks  before,  been  sent  for 
and  executed  some  Writings  in  Presence  of  the  Com- 
mittee, which  they  suspected  to  be  Indian  Deeds,  they 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          317 

conceived  it  their  Duty,  to  acquaint  those  Gentlemen 
with  the  Danger  of  such  Practices,  by  pointing  out  to 
them  the  fundamental  Rule  aforesaid,  as  to  Indian 
Purchases,  the  Act  of  lt>83,  aforesaid,  by.  which  it  was 
criminal  to  make  such  without  Licence;  and  the  Act 
of  1703,'  by  which  they  were  void,  and  a  Penalty  of 
Forty  Shillings  for  every  Acre  so  bought;  which  they 
did  accordingly  out  of  the  original  Bill  against  some 
People  of  Elizabeth  Town,  filed  with  Mr.  Bartow, 
Clerk,  then  laid  before  them,  where  these  Matters  are 
set  forth  at  large;  and  also  produced  to  them  the 
orignal  Instructions  to  Lord  Lovelace,  (who  was  the 
second  Governor  of  New-Jersey  under  the  Crown) 
under  the  Seal  of  Queen  Anne's  Privy  Council  of 
Great- Britain,  and  her  Royal  Sign  Manual,  and  that 
Part  thereof,  concerning  Indian  Purchases  herein 
before  mentioned;  whereupon  Mr.  John  Low  declared, 
that  he  had  not  before  looked  on  Indian  Claims  in  the 
Light  he  then  did,  and  would  acquaint  the  People  in 
whose  Behalf  he  came,  with  the  Facts  shown  to  him, 
and  they  could  act  as  they  should  think  fit,  or  to  that 
Purpose;  whethef  they  were  so  acquainted  or  not,  Mr. 
Low,  and  those  People  best  know. 

Alexander  and  Morris  say,  that  as  all  their  Proposals 
were  refused,  they  proceeded  in  the  Ejectments 
brought  before,  and  commenced  sundry  more;  in 
every  or  any  of  which,  the  Defendants  might  have 
joined  Issue  if  they  had  pleased,  and  appealed  to  Eng- 
land if  they  went  against  them;  nor  was  it  in  the 
Partnei-s  Power  or  Desire  to  hinder  them  from  so 
doing;  but  no  Defendants  were  enter "d  to  any  one 
Suit;  so  that  Judgments  were  obtained  against  the 
casual  Ejectors,  and  thereby  none  of  the  Possessors 
had  one  Penny  of  Costs  or  Charges  of  those  Suits  to 
pay,  or  of  any  other  Suits  whatsoever,  to  their  Knowl- 
edge or  Belief :  They  say  they  are  Strangers  to  any 
Trfeaties  with  those  People  afterwards,  otherwise  than 


318          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

by  Information  from  Mr.  Ogden,  who  differs  far  from 
them  in  the  Account  of  them ;  but  he  was  so  far  from 
doing  any  Thing  to  hinder  them  from  transmitting 
their  Affairs  and  Circumstances  home  to  England,  to 
lay  them  before  his  Majesty  King  George  in  Council, 
as  they  say  they  were  designed  to  do,  that  upon  the 
Committee's  complaining  of  want  of  Money  for  that 
Purpose,  he  offered  to  lend  them  what  Money  they 
wanted  for  that  Purpose,  on  the  Bonds  of  the  Com- 
mittee, without  any  other  Security;  which  Offer  they 
refused  to  accept  of.' 

They  do  declare,  that  tho'  the  said  Families  without 
Title,  have  committed  great  Waste  of  the  Timber  on 
the  said  Land,  that  they  never  threatned  nor  had 
Thoughts  of  bringing  any  one  Action  on  the  Act  of 
1713,  of  Twenty  Shillings  Penalty  for  each  Tree;  nor 
did  they  agree  or  intend  to  bring  any  one  or  more 
Actions  of  Trespass  for  the  Damage,  or  mean  Profits 
of  the  said  Land,  and  Costs  of  the  Suits  of  Ejectment, 
tho'  it  was  lawful  for  them  so  to  have  done,  and  is 
usual  in  the  like  Case.  The  offering  a  Lease  for  a 
Year  without  any  Rent  (which  was^Dne  of  the  three 
Proposals  of  December  22d,  and  the  Offer  renewed  at 
the  Meeting  at  Perth-Amboy)  was  in  a  Manner  an 
Acquittal  of  those  Things,  and  had  they  desired  it 
they  should  have  had  Acquittances  in  Form. 

As  to  the  Action  of  Trespass  against  Baldwin,  on 
which  the  first  Riot  was  committed,  it  was  not  for 
trespassing  on  the  said  Tract,  but  upon  a  Tract  adjoin- 
ining  to  it,  belonging  to  Infants,  the  Children  of 
Richard  Ashfielcl,  deceased;  and  on  which  the  said 
Baldwin  made  great  Havock  with  his  Saw  Mill,  of  the 
best  Timber  thereon ;  and  tho' forewarned,  would  not 
desist,  but  in  Defiance  continued  so  to  do,  to  the  great 


1  The  Letter  is  dnnexed  as  a  note,  but  is  not  printed  in  this  connection,  being 
unnecessary  after  the  statements  in  the  text. — ED. 


174G]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          319 

Impoverishment  of  the  same  Land;  and  so  he  con- 
tinues as  well  as  other  the  Rioters  to  do,  in  making  all 
the  Waste  and  Havock  they  can  of  the  Timber  there- 
abouts, in  hopes  of  Impunity  from  those  Riots. 

That  they  have  been  informed  and  believe,  that  at 
the  first  Riot  there  was  no  more  than  seven  of  the 
People  of  the  said  Tract  of  13,500  Acres,  and  fewer  at 
the  last  Riot;  and  that  they  verily  believe,  those  Peo- 
ple had  no  Thoughts  of  opposing  their  Title,  or  of  com- 
mitting any  such  Riots,  till  spirited  up  by  some  Men 
who  have  formed  the  daring  Design  aforesaid,  of 
wresting  from  the  General  Proprietors  both  their 
Rents  and  Lands;  and  of  setting  up  sham  Deeds,  pro- 
cured from  stroling  Indians,  in  Place  of  the  Title  of 
the  Crown  of  England;  and  the  People  of  the  13,500 
Acre  Tract,  were  so  far  from  having  any  such 
Thoughts,  that  they  gave  their  best  Assistance  in  car- 
rying the  Chain,  and  in  other  Services,  and  the  best 
Entertainment  their  Houses  could  afford,  and  the 
civilest  Usage  in  their  Power,  during  the  Survey 
thereof,  before  mentioned. 

And  upon  the  Whole,  we  the  Council  of  Proprietors 
conceive,  its  no  Wonder  that  the  Bait  of  the  Seducers 
has  been  catch'd  at  by  a  Number  of  poor,  weak  and 
ignorant  People,  seeing  it  was  covered  with  so  great 
seeming  Advantages,  as  for  a  few  Bottles  of  Rum 
bestowed  for  Indian  Deeds,  to  be  not  only  discharged 
of  Arrears  of  Quit-Rents,  and  to  be  clear  of  paying 
Rents  for  the  future;  but  also  instead  of  paying  Ten  or 
Fijteen  Shillings  per  Acre  to  the  Proprietors  for  Land, 
they  can  in  this  Method,  have  them  for  less  than  Ten 
or  Fifteen  Pence  per  100  Acres:  Animating  Prospects 
indeed!  But  if  they  will  with  Coolness  consider  what 
they  give  up  by  snatching  at  the  Bait;  their  Allegiance 
and  the  publick  Peace-;  and  that  they  expose  them- 
selves to  the  Punishment  due  to  Sedition,  &c.  tfcc.  It 
is  hoped  they  will  be  sensible  of  the  Danger  they  run, 


320          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

and  act  as  all  other  good  Subjects  do,  by  making  the 
Laws  and  not  Force  the  Measure  of  their  Eights. 

From  the  printed  Letter  of  Mr.  Jenkins  to  the  Peo- 
ple Newark,  there  seemeth  Reason  to  suspect,  that 
neither  he  nor  the  other  seduced  People,  have  been 
acquainted  with  the  fundamental  Rule,  Act  of  1683, 
and  Act  of  1703;  and  Instructions  concerning  Indian 
Purchases  shewn,  to  their  Committee,  as  before  men- 
tioned, but  have  been  blindly  led  on  by  a  Position, 
That  the  Indians  were  once  the  Owners  of  the  Soil; 
and  therefrom  they  conclude,  That  those  who  have 
purchased,  or  got  Deeds  of  their  Right,  must  also  be 
Owners  noiv;  the  Argument  seems  plausible  and  of 
Force,  to  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  pre- 
ceeding  Rule  and  Laws,  and  with  the  Nature  of  the 
undeniable  Rights  of  the  Crown  of  England. 

But  suppose  (for  Argument  Sake)  the  Position  afore- 
said to  be  true,  yet,  has  not  the  Crown  of  England  a 
Right  to  those  void  or  uninhabited  Countries,  which 
are  discovered  by  any  of  its  Subjects?  Has  not  the 
Crown  of  England  a  Right,  to  restrain  its  Subjects 
from  treating  with  any  Heathen  Nation  whatsoever? 
And  has  not  the  Crown  of  England,  in  Consequence  of 
that  Right,  Power  to  grant  the  Liberty  of  treating 
with  any  Heathen  Nation,  to  any  one  particular  Per- 
son, exclusive  of  all  others,  and  that  upon  such  Terms 
as  by  the  Crown  may  be  thought  proper?  Has  not  the 
Crown  of  England  at  least  granted  that  Right  to  the 
Proprietors,  by  Grants  of  New-Jersey  under  the  (Treat 
Seal  of  England?  Had  not  the  Proprietors,  by  Virtue 
of  those  Grants,  a  Right  to  make  the  fundamental 
Rule  before  mentioned?  Or  rather,  was  not  that  fun- 
damental &ule  a  Notification  of  what  was  the  Right  of 
the  Proprietors  antecedent  to  Hi  Had  not  the  Legisla- 
ture, in  the  Year  1683,  the  Right  to  declare  the 
Breaches  of  that  fundamental  Rule  to  be  criminal,  and 
tending  to  Sedition?  And  is  it  not  obvious  from  the 


1740]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LK\VIS   MOKRIH.          321 

two  late  Riots  at  Newark,  that  they  (Sixty-two  Years 
ago)  foresaw  the  Consequences  of  the  Breaches  of  that 
! filler  Had  not  the  Legislature,  in  the  Year  1703,  the 
Right  to  declare  all  Indian  Deeds  obtained  contrary  to 
the  said  Rule  to  be  void?  And  had  not  they  a  Right 
also  to  impose  a  Penalty  of  Forty  Shillings  per  Acre, 
upon  every  Person  who  should  break  thro'  that  Rule? 
Had  not  the  People  of  New- Jersey  from  the  above 
Rights  of  the  Crown,  from  the  very  Nature  and  Rea- 
son of  Things,  from  the  said  fundamental  Rule,  and 
i'ntm  the  said  two  Acts  of  Assembly,  sufficient  Notice, 
that  the  Proprietors  had  the  sole  Right  of  making 
Purchases  from  the  Indians  as  they  should  see  Occa- 
sion '{  Could  any  other* Person's  making  Purchases,  in 
Defiance  of  the  said  Rights  of  the  Crown,  Rule  and 
Laws,  intitle  -the  Purchaser  to  any  Thing  further,  than 
to  the  Punishment  of  Sedition  prescribed  by  the  Act 
of  1683,  and  to  be  subject  to  Forty  Shillings  per  Acre 
Penalty  by  the  Act  of  1 703?  And  had  not  the  Legis- 
lature in  the  Year  1713,  a  Right  to  impose  a  Penalty  of 
Tkventy  Shillings  for  every  Tree  that  any  Man  should 
cut  on  Lands  not  his  legal  Property?  And  are  not  all 
those  Laws  now  in  Force?  If  not,  what  has  taken 
away  the  Force  of  any  one  of  them? 

Suppose  again  (for  Argument  Sake)  that  there  had 
been  no  such  Rule  nor  Acts  of  Assembly  as  before,  yet 
if  the  Crown  of  England  and  its  Assigns,  have  the  sole 
and  exclusive  Right,  of  treating  with  the  Heathen  con- 
cerning Lands;  is  it  not  an  Usurpation  of  the  Right  of 
the  Crown,  for  any  other  Man  even  so  much  as  to 
treat  with  them  on  that  Head?  And  doth  not  an 
Usurpation  of  the  Right  of  the  Crown  in  its  Nature 
approach  to  High  Treason? 

To  pretend  to  hold  Lands  by  an  Indian  Deed  only, 
is  not  that  declaring  the  Indian  Grantor  to  be  the 
Superior  Lord  of  that  Land,  and  disowning  the  Crown 
of  England  to  l>«>  ^>'.  And  is  not  that  an  Overt  Act  of 


322          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

withdrawing  the  Allegiance  due  to  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land? (from  which  all  Lands  within  its  Dominions 
must  be  held  mediately  or  immediately)  Or  is  it  not 
an  Overt  Act  or  Endeavour,  to  establish  the  Dominion 
of  the  Indian  from  whom  the  Tenure  is,  and  to  destroy 
the  Dominion  of  the  Crown  of  England  in  this  Prov- 
ince? And  do  not  those  Overt  Acts  or  Endeavours  in 
their  Nature  approach  to  High  Treason? 

If  the  Facts  of  barely  treating  for,  or  procuring  an 
Indian  Deed,  without  the  Right  of  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land so  to  do,  be  in  their  Nature  approaching  to  the 
Crime  of  High  Treason,  what  must  be  the  Pretence  of 
holding  Lands  by  them  only? — The  assembling  of  Mul- 
titudes in  a  riotous  Manner  to  defend  such  Pretence?— 
The  obstructing  with  those  Multitudes  the  due  Course 
of  the  Law? — The  taking  from  the  King's  Officer,  the 
Sheriff  of  the  County,  the  Possession  of  his  Majesty's 
Prison? — The  breaking  open  his  Majesty's  Prison,  and 
rescuing  the  Prisoners  there  lawfully  committed,  &c. 
&c.  ?  And  what  must  the  publick  avowing  of  all  those 
Things  in  Print,  by  the  Post-Boy  of  February  17th, 
and  Mr.  Jenkins's  Letter  be? 

These  are  Questions,  that  had  the  Seducers  been 
honest  Men,  they  would  have  considered,  first,  how 
they  could  have  answered  them  themselves?  And  if 
they  could  answer  them  to  their  own  Satisfactions, 
without  withdrawing  their  Allegiance  from  the  Crown 
of  England;  then,  secondly,  they  ought  to  have  ac- 
quainted the  People  with  them  and  with  their 
Answers,  and  ought  not  to  have  blindly  led  a  poor 
ignorant  People  in  the  Dark,  into  the  Crimes  they  have 
committed  against  those  Laws  and  the  King's  Peace, 
and  all  this  thro'  the  silly  Position  aforesaid,  false  in 
it  self,  as  the  Indians  had  no  Notion  of  Property  in 
Lands  more  than  in  Air,  until  the  Christians  came 
amongst  them  (except  in  the  small  Spots  on  which 
they  planted  their  Indian  Corn,  and  those  Spots  did 


i  i  (''•]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          323 

not  occupy  so  much  as  one  Acre  of  a  Thousand  Acres; 
so  that  the  remaining  999  Acres  might  properly  be 
said  to  be  void  and  uninhabited,  and  in  the  Power  of 
the  Crown  absolutely  to  grant;  and  except  as  to  Hunt- 
ing.) 

And  as  by  what  we  have  now  published,  Mr.  Jen- 
kins, and  other  the  People  seduced,  will  be  acquainted 
with  what,  we  apprehend,  has  been  kept  hid  from 
them  by  the  Seducers;  we  hope  they  will  be  sensible 
of  the  Crimes  they  have  committed  or  countenanced, 
and  abhor  them  and  the  Seducers;  will  burn  their 
Indian  Deeds,  that  they  have  lately  got  for  some  Bot- 
tles of  Rum,  that  they  rise  not  in  Judgment  against 
them,  to  subject  them  to  the  Punishments  and  Penal- 
ties of  the  Laws,  and  flie  to  the  Mercy  of  the  Laws, 
for  the  Expiation  of  their  criminal  Riots,  and  to  the 
Mercy  of  the  Owners  of  the  Lands  they  have  been  pil- 
laging and]wasting,  to  make  them  what  Amends  is  in 
their  Power  for  so  doing. 

By  Order  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  East 
New-Jersey. 

LAUR.  SMYTH,  Clerk. 


Samuel  NevilVs*  Speech  in  the  Assembly  of  New  Jer- 
sey— in  answer  to  the  Rioters'  Petition. 

[From  New  York  Post- Boy,  May  19th  and  May  28th.] 

Mr.  Nevill's  Speech  to  the  House  of  Represen- 
tatives of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  on  the 
Second  Reading  ofjsthe  Petition,  from  a 


came  to  East  Jersey  In  May,  1786,  brought 

out  by  the  death  of  nis  8i8ter« wno  had  b®611 
the  wife  of  Peu?r  solans  and  inherited 

his  property.    Mr.  Nevlll  had  been  editor 

of  the  London  Morning  Pott,  and  the  few  memorials  of  him  still  existing  indicate 
the  possession  of  character  and  talents  much  above  mediocrity.     He  soon  ro«e  to 


24         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [17463 

Number  of  Persons  stiling  themselves  In- 
habitants chiefly  of  the  Northern  Part  of 
the  Province  of  New-Jersey,  on  Saturday 
the  26th  of  April,  1746. 

Mr.  Speaker, 

I  look  upon  the  Petition  now  read,  as  a  scandalous, 
false,  abusive  and  inveterate  Libel,  upon  a  Set  of  Gen- 
tlemen who  are  more  immediately  under  the  Protec- 
tion of  his  Majesty,  as  will  appear  by  the  Instructions 
given  by  the  Crown,  to  the  several  Governors  of  this 
Colony,  ever  since  the  Surrender  of  the  Government; 
I  mean  sir,  the  Proprietors  of  East  New-Jersey,  who 
are  by  the  Petitioners  traduced  as  guilty  of  Unjust 
Molestation,  Virulent  Oppression,  Pretenders  to  Pro- 
priety, Invaders  of  the  Rights  and  Properties  of  the 
People,  and  Encroachers  upon  the  Heathen  and  In- 
dian Natives,  and  True  Proprietors  of  the  Lands, 
under  whom  the  Petitioners  claim  their  Titles  and 


eminence  in  the  Province,  became  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Mayor 
of  Perth  Amboy  (then  no  trifling  position),  Second  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
filled  several  other  important  offices  to  the  credit  of  himself,  and  it  is  believed  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Government  and  the  well  disposed  among  the  people.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Assembly  at  various  times,  and  prominent  in  the 
dissensions  which  occurred  during  Governor  Morris'  administration.  In  1752,  while 
holding  the  office  of  Second  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Mr.  Nevill  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  laws  of  the  Province  in  two  volumes  folio,  which  was  a  valu- 
able service  to  the  Province.  In  1758,  under  the  sobriquet  of  "  Sylvanus  Anieri- 
canus,''— hi  imitation,  probably,  of  "  Sylvanus  Urban,"  of  the  London  Gentleman's 
Magazine— h&  commenced  editing  a  monthly  periodical  published  at  Woodbridge 
by  James  Parker,  called  The  New  American  Magazine,  being  the  first  periodical  of 
any  kind  printed  in  New  Jersey,  and  only  the  second  monthly  magazine  on  the 
Continent.  The  appellation  "  New  "  was  to  distinguish  it  from  its  only  predecessor, 
published  in  Philadelphia,  which,  however,  was  discontinued  on  the  appearance  of 
its  competitor.  On  the  death  of  Chief  Justice  Morris  in  January,  17&4,  he  would 
probably  have  been  raised  to  the  vacant  bench  had  not  the  infirmities  of  age  ren- 
dered the  performance  of  its  duties  by  him  impracticable.  He  died  in  October 
following,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  Whom  he  married  is  not  known,  but 
his  wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave,  dying  in  1755,  and  their  simple  headstones  of 
gray  slate  yet  mark  their  places  of  sepulture  in  the  graveyard  of  St.  Peter's  Church, 
Perth  Amboy.  They  left  no  children.— See  Contributions  to  the  Early  History  of 
Perth  Amboy,  pp.  120-124,  etc.— ED. 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS. 

Rights  to  their  Possessions;  and  thereby  deny  the 
Right  and  Property  of  these  Parts  of  the  English  Do- 
minions to  be  vested  in  his  Majesty,  and  charging  the 
Crown  of  England  with  a  Royal  Fraud,  and  as  guilty 
of  the  greatest  Injustice;  for  the  Proprietors  cannot 
come  under  these  opprobious  Denominations,  they 
having  honestly  paid  for  the  Land  which  they  claim 
Title  to,  and  fairly  obtained  good  and  sufficient  Con- 
veyances for  the  same  from  the  Crown,  as  manifestly 
appears  by  the  Records  of  this  Province.  How  this 
Honourable  House  will  treat  this  Bold  Attempt  upon 
the  Prerogative  of  the  Crown,  by  calling  in  Question 
his  Majesty's  Right  and  Title  to  the  Soil  of  New  Jer- 
sey, who  is  the  Proprietors  immediate  Warrantor  and 
Defender,  I  must  submit;  and  shall  now  only  beg 
Leave  (in  Behalf  of  those  injured  Gentlemen,  Proprie- 
tors) to  answer  the  said  libellous  Petition,  Paragraph 
by  Paragraph.  The  Petition  begins  thus: 

"  We,  our  Ancestors,  Predecessors,  &c.  having  (as 
we  suppose)  made  a  Full  and  Just  Purchase  of  sundry 
Tracts  of  Land  (situate  in  this  Province)  of  the  Heathen 
Native  Proprietors  and  Owners  thereof,  and  of  and 
from  them,  obtained  Good  and  Lawful  Grants  or  Deeds 
of  Conveyance  of  the  same,  some  of  which  Lands  hav- 
ing been  possessed  by  our  Fathers  and  us  some  Scores 
of  Years,  we  thought  our  Rights  and  Properties  secure 
from  Invasion,  &c.v 

This,  Mr.  Speaker.  I  conceive  is  a  Notorious  Libel 
upon  the  Crown  of  England;  for  if  the  Purchases  and 
( 'onveyances  made  and  obtained  by  the  Petitioners  b:» 
Full  and  Just,  Good  and  Lawful;  then  consequently 
the  Purchases  and  Conveyances  made  and  obtained  l>y 
the  Proprietors  from  the  Crown  of  England,  must  be 
Void  and  Unjust,  Bad  and  Unlawful,  and  of  Com 
Royal  Fraud.  But  that  the  Crown  fully  intended  to 
make  good  their  Right  and  Title  to  the  Lands  of  New 
Jersey,  and  to  confirm  them  to  the  Proprietors,  (to 


326          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

whom  they  had  conveyed  them)  plainly  appears  by 
the  Instructions  given  by  Queen  Anne,  to  the  Lord 
Cornbury,  the  First  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  after  the 
Surrender  of  this  Government  to  the  Crown.  And 
this  set  of  Instructions,  Sir,  agreed  on  at  that  Time  to 
be  granted  by  the  Crown  as*  their  Concessions  to  the 
People,  may  be  justly  deemed  the  Magna  Charta  or 
Great  Charter  of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey;  and  to 
break  through  any  of  them,  I  esteem  as  an  Infringe- 
ment upon  the  Liberties  and  Properties  of  the  People 
here;  they  being  founded  upon  the  Royal  Word  or 
Grant,  and  being  Part  of  the  Condition  of  the  Surren- 
der of  the  Government.  I  shall  beg  Leave,  Sir,  to 
read  that  Part  of  the  Instructions  relating  to  the  Pro- 
prietors. [See  the  Substance  in  the  Proprietors'  Publi- 
cation.1] 

These  Instructions,  Sir,  have  always  been  continued 
to  the  several  succeeding  Governors,  and  I  doubt  not 
are  continued  to  His  Excellency  our  present  Governor 
to  this  Day;  and  were  also  recommended  by  His  Ex- 
cellency the  Lord  Cornbury  to  the  first  Assembly  of 
this  Colony  after  the  said  Surrender,  in  his  first  Speech 
to  them,  which  I  beg  leave  to  read  from  the  Minute 
Book  of  the  said  Assembly,  now  lying  upon  the  Table, 
in  the  following  Words,  viz. 

"I  am  likewise  commanded  to  recommend  to  your 
Care  the  preparing  one  or  more  Bill  or  Bills,  whereby 
the  Right  and  Property  of  the  General  Proprietors  to 
the  Soil  of  this  Province  may  be  confirmed  to  them, 
according  to  their  respective  Titles,  together  with  all 
Quit-Rents,  and  all  other  Privileges  as  are  expressed 
in  the  Conveyances  made  by  the  Duke  of  York]  except 
only  the  Right  of  Government,  which  remains  in  the 
Queen. 

In  Consequence  of  which  Recommendation,  the  first 

1  See  page  297  of  this  volume. 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          IttT 

Act  that  appears  in  the  printed  Laws  of  this  Colony, 
and  the  first  and  only  Law  that  pass'd  here  in  that 
first  Assembly  after  the  Surrender  as  aforesaid,  related 
to  Indian  Purchases;  which  I  crave  leave  to  read  from 
the  printed  Book,  it  is  entitled,  &c. ' 

Now,  Sir,  by  the  Petitioners  own  Words  it  plainly 
appears,  they  have  only  Indian  Purchases,  which  (by 
the  Act  of  Assembly  now  read)  are  absolutely  void. 
And  as  a  further  Demonstration  of  the  Illegality  of 
the  Indian  Purchases,  I  desire  to  read  some  Abstracts 
from  the  Proprietors  Publication. 

This,  I  think,  Sir,  is  a  full  Answer  to  that  Part  of 
the  Petition;  for  by  the  Concessions  and  fundamental 
Constitutions,  and  by  the  Laws  of  the  Province  these 
Purchases  are  Void.  The  Petitioners  go  on  thus: 

"And  whereas  divers  Persons,  pretending  Propriety 
in  the  said  Lands,  have,  in  the  late  Years  past,  given 
us  great  Uneasiness,  by  surveying  great  Part  of  our 
purchased  Lands,  with  many  Improvements  and  Set- 
tlements, selling  some,  and  offering  the  rest  to  Sale, 
serving  sundry  Ejectments  on  the  long  possessed,  as 
aforesaid,  and  threatningto  dispossess  all  the  rest,  who 
would  not  either  purchase  their  Lands  of  them  (at  a 
very  dear  Rate  too)  or  become  their  Tenants,  &c." 

As  to  this  Part,  Sir,  I  say,  that  the  Indian  Purchase 
being  Void  (as  before  observed)  they  can  have  no  law- 
ful Pretensions  to  these  Lands;  and  by  what  has  been 
already  read.  I  leave  it  to  the  Honourable  House  to 


1  The  Substance  of  it  la  in  the  Publication  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  of  East 
Jersey,  of  March  25th,  1746.  page  307  of  this  volume. 

The  Publication  referred  to  in  this  Speech,  is  that  Edition  of  it  printed  l>y  it-.-li 
consisting  of  11  Pages  in  folio.— The  same  Publication  was  reprinted  in  each  of  the 
three  New- York  News-Papers,  divided  into  four  Parts.  The  first  Part,  printr.l  in 
the  News-Papers  of  April  7th,  174<J.— The  second  Part,  printed  in  PajK-rs  of  April 
14th.  -The  third  Part,  printed  in  Papers  of  April  21st  -The  fourth  Part,  print f  1  in 
Papers  of  April  2Sth.—  By  the  Help  of  this  NX  »,  any  one,  wa  >  ha<  o.ily  one  of  the 
K  litions  in  the  Njw.H-Paoera,  raiy  enlly  fl-il  thi  Plajei  t'asre  eorre  <  ponding  to  the 
separate  Edition  here  referred  to. 

Note  also,  That  a  Copy  of  that  Edition  of  the  Publication  referred  to,  was  deliv 
ered  to  each  Member  of  the  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1746. 


328          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

judge,  whether  the  Proprietors  have  not  an  undoubted 
Title  to  the  same,  and  a  Right  to  survey  those  Lands, 
and  to  bring  Ejectments,  or  any  other  Suits,  against 
such  as  wilfully  withold  the  Possession  from  them, 
and  to  make  Sale  of  the  said  Lands  at  their  Pleasure. 
But  to  go  on  with  the  Petition; 

"•  And  withall  to  bring  a  Resurvey  upon  all  the 
Lands,  even  such  as  were  of  themselves  bought  or 
patented,  &c." 

I  beg  leave  to  say,  Mr.  Speaker,  That  these  poor 
ignorant  People  have  been  much  imposed  upon  by 
some  designing  Persons:  For  this  Part  of  the  Petition 
is  an  absolute  and  wicked  Falshood;  tending  only  to 
disquiet  and  terrify  the  People,  and  to  amuse  this 
Honourable  House,  by  endeavouring  to  prepossess 
them  in  Favour  of  their  unjust  and  illegal  Proceedings. 
For  I  have  for  many  Years  'past,  Sir,  sate  with  the 
Council  of  Proprietors  of  East  New-Jersey,  have  ex- 
amined all  the  Minutes  from  the  Year  Eighty-five 
(being  their  first  Meeting  in  these  Parts)  to  this  pres- 
ent Time,  and  have  never  met  with  any  Motion,  or  the 
least  Hint  of  that  Kind  in  their  Minutes,  or  in  their 
Books  of  Record;  nor  have  I  ever  heard  any  of  the 
present  Council  of  Proprietors  make  mention  of  any 
such  Thing,  but  on  the  contrary,  when  th^y  have 
heard  of  such  base  Stories  being  spread  abroad,  they 
have  all  declared  their  Detestation  of  any  such  Prac- 
tice. The  Petitioners  say  further: 

"And  make  all  Persons  who  have  Patents,  &c.  pay 
unto  them  Quit-Rents,  contrary  to  the  True  Meaning 
and  Intent  of  the  same,  &c." 

This  is  both  False  and  Ridiculous  in  itself:  Can  it  be 
supposed  the  Proprietor's  would  be  so  foolish  as  to  de- 
mand Quit-Rents  whei-e  there  are  none  due  by  the  Pat- 
enrs?  And  where  the  Grantees  hold  their  Land  by  no 
other  Service  but  paying  such  Rents  as  are  specify'd 
in  their  Patents,  have  not  the  Proprietors  a  Right  to 


174f>]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR   LKWIS  MORHIS.  329 

demand  them?  Can  a  Person  renting  a  Farm  a  Hun- 
dred Yeai-s  u]>on  Lease,  condition 'd  for  the  Payment  of 
such  an  annual  Rent  as  is  specif  y'd  in  his  said  Lease, 
justly  say  he  is  injured,  if  his  Landlord  permits  him  to 
make  use  of  liis  Rent  Money  for  Fifty  Years  without 
demanding  it?  Or  has  the  Tenant  any  Right  to  refuse 
the  Payment  of  it  when  demanded?  Or  to  claim  the 
Farm  as  his  own  without  any  Ackuowlegement,  be- 
cause of  such  an  Indulgence?  But  to  proceed: 

•  •  And  moreover  to  load  them  with  Multiplicities  of 
Law  Suits  (which  as  Experience  shews)  exposes,  espe- 
cially Men  of  quiet  Minds,  to  exorbitant  Expence  and 
Costs  as  well  as  Fatigues,  &c.  By  which  Acts  and 
Threats  as  aforesaid,  which  we  imagine  to  be  Unjust 
Molestation  and  even  Virulent  Oppression,  &c.v 

The  Proprietors  in  general  have  brought  no  Suits 
against  these'  Men.  nor  threaten'd  any:  Two  of  that 
Board,  viz.  Mr.  Alexander  and  Mr.  Morris  have  brought 
Suits  against  some  of  them;  their  Reasons  they  set 
forth  in  the  said  Proprietors  Publication,  which  (as 
every  Member  hath  been  presented  with  one  of  the 
said  Answers)  for  Brevity  Sake,  I  refer. 

By  that  their  Answer,  Mr.  Speaker,  the  House  may 
see,  that  these  Gentlemen  have  acted  fairly  and  can- 
didly by  tliese  people,  liuve  put  them  to  no  exorbitant 
Expence  and  Costs,  as  they  alledge,  nor  even  to  one 
Farthing  Expence:  And  it  is  well  known,  that  in  Cases 
of  Ejectment,  when  no  Defence  is  made,  no  Costs  can 
he  recovered:  and  it'  a  Title  is  defended,  and  no  Right 
appeai-s  in  the  Defendant,  is  it  not  reasonable  he  should 
pay  the  Costs?  However,  let  us  hear  furthei •; 

"  We  were  animated  to  seek  the  Transmission  of 
our  Affairs  and  Circumstances  (relating  to  our  Inmdcd 
Hi <jli I*  and  rn ,/i-i-h'rs}  Home  to  England,  and  lay 
them  before  the  King  in  Council,  hoping  in  >uch  a  due 
and  regular  Way  and  Manner  of  Procedure,  to  have 
our  justly  purchased.  ias  we  suppose)  and  possessed 


330          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1746 

Lands  and  Inheritances  to  us  warranted,  secured,  and 
defended  by  the  Laws  and  Liberties  of  our  Nation: 
To  which  End  and  Purpose,  we  chose  a  Committee  to 
act  for  us,  &c.  who  have  endeavoured  (maugre  all  the 
Projections  of  the  adverse  Party)  to  cause  a  Superces- 
sion  in  that  Affair,  &c." 

By  those  Gentlemen's  Reasons,  Sir,  set  forth  in  the 
Proprietors  Publication,  before  mentioned,  it  plainly 
appears,  that  they  were  so  far  from  hindering  these 
People  from  transmitting  their  Circumstances  home  to 
England,  or  causing  a  Supercession  (as  they  term  it) 
in  that  Affair,  that  Mr.  Ogden  offered  them  fair  Pro- 
posals for  that  Purpose,  nay  even  to  lend  them  Money 
to  defray  the  whole  Charge  of  it.  The  Petitioners  fur- 
ther say, 

"  The  Prosecution  of  our  Design  to  Effect,  tho'  by 
slow,  yet  we  hope  by  Regular  and  Sure  Steps,  &c." 

I  must  confess,  Mr.  Speaker,  that  I  know  not  what 
these  Gentlemen  mean  by  Regular  and  Sure  Steps, 
unless  it  be  by  a  Club  Law,  (which  is  now  become  a 
By- Word,  and  is  too  much  encouraged  by  inconsider- 
ate People)  and  that  is  a  Sure  Step  indeed,  to  try  a 
Man's  Property  by  Knocking  out  his  Brains!  Or  un- 
less it  be  by  Flying  in  the  Face  of  the  King's  Authority, 
Breaking  Goal,  and  Terrifying  and  Abusing  the  Offi- 
cers and  Magistrates,  who  endeavoured  to  put  the 
Laws  in  Execution;  And  these  are  such  Regular  and 
Sure  Steps,  which  must  certainly  end  in  the  Destruc- 
tion both  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Colony;  and 
which,  I  am  sure,  the  Honourable  House  will  never 
countenance.  The  next  is  a  very  modest  Paragraph,  I 
must  confess,  especially  considering  the  Petitioners 
are  suing  for  the  King's  Mercy! 

"  It  is  humbly  confessed  and  declared,  the  Oppres- 
sions and  Fraudulent  Dealings  we  have  met  withall, 
from  and  by  the  Proprietors  so  called,  their  Threat- 
nings,  commencing  of  Suits,  and  such  Prosecution 


!  1  I'1.]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  I.KWIs   MORRIS.          331 

against  u>.  on  such  Pretences  as  theirs  is,  and  under 
such  Circumstances  as  ours  are,  is  the  only  Ground  of 
that  Exasperation,  which  hath  been  in  this  Part  of 
the  Country  generally,  and  hath  occasioned  the  late 
Stirs  among  us,  particularly  at  Newark,  &c." 

This,  Sir,  is  certainly  an  Original  in  it  self,  and 
deserves  a  more  particular  Remark!  What  do  the 
Petitioners  mean  by  the  Proprietors  so  called?  If  they 
deny  the  King's  Supremacy  here!  If  they  deny  his 
Right  and  Title  to  the  Lands  of  New  Jersey!  If  they 
deny  the  Holding  of  Lands  in  this  Colony  by  the 
Laws  of  England  to  be  Good!  And  so  consequently 
deny  their  Dependance  upon  the  Crown  of  England 
for  their  Properties!  Then  are  the  Proprietors  Pre- 
tenders, and  may  be  stiled  the  Proprietors  so  called: 
Property  carries  no  double  Face,  Sir,  it  is  either  Prop- 
erty or  Not  Property;  and  the  Dispute  now  is,  whether 
the  Property  in  the  Soil  of  this  Colony  is  vested  in  the 
Crown  of  England,  or  in  the  Indian  Natives?  A 
dangerous  Dispute  to  be  disputed,  Mr.  Speaker! 
Again;  Carrying  on  such  Prosecutions  against  us  on 
such  Pretences  as  theirs  is,  and  under  such  Circum- 
stances as  ours  are:  On  such  Pretences  as  theirs  is, 
that  is,  an  absolute  Conveyance  of  all  the  Lands  in 
New  Jersey,  both  mediately  and  immediately  from  the 
Crown  of  England  to  the  Proprietors  and  their  Heirs 
and  Assigns  forever.  And  under  such  Circumstances 
as  ours  are,  That  is,  a  Multitude  of  People,  treading 
upon  the  very  Heels  of  Rebellion,  if  not  actually  en- 
gaged in  it,  (as  is  the  Opinion  of  the  King's  Attorney 
General)  and  setting  up  the  Heathen  Indians  as  true 
Owners  of  the  Soil,  under  whom  they  claim,  and  so  of 
Course  their  Lords  Paramount;  and  this.  Sir,  they 
urge  as  the  only  Ground  of  that  Exasperation  which 
hath  been  in  this  Part  of  the  Country  generally,  and 
hath  occasioned  the  late  Stirs  among  them,  particu- 
larly at  Newark.  A  very  plausible  Excuse  truly,  and 


332          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1746 

worthy  the  Consideration  of  this  Honourable  House! 
In  short,  I  pity  the  Ignorance  of  the  poor  deluded  Peo- 
ple! They  seem  to  be  in  a  Maze!  And  endeavouring  to 
find  their  Way  out,  they  plunge  themselves  further 
in,  by  signing  these  Petitions:  But  I  think,  Sir,  the 
Draftsman  (be  who  he  will)  is  without  excuse;  First, 
for  craftily  advancing  such  traiterous  and  seditious 
Tenets  to  this  Honourable  House,  in  Hopes  to  have 
them  countenanced  here;  and,  secondly,  from  behind 
the  Curtain,  drawing  these  poor  People  into  his  per- 
nicious Principles,  and  dangerous  Measures,  by  induc- 
ing them  to  sign  these  Petitions.  As  to  Part  of  the 
Charge,  viz.  The  Oppressions  and  Fraudulent  Deal- 
ings they  have  met  withall  from  and  by  the  Proprie- 
tors so  called;  I  refer  you  to  the  Proprietors  Publica- 
tion already  mentioned,  which  I  think  a  full  and  Suffi- 
cient Answer.  I  shall  now  go  on  with  the  Petition. 

"For  sure  it  is,  should  we  attempt  to  enter  and 
engage  our  Opponents  in  the  Law  here,  who  sees  not 
the  Difficulties  attending  our  making  a  legal  Defence, 
where  the  Interest  in  general  is  on  their  Side,  render- 
ing the  Case  so  difficult  with  us  and  on  our  Side, 
That  we  cannot  think  any  Cause  between  us  and  the 
Proprietors  so  called  can  have  a  fair  and  impartial 
Hearing  and  Determination,  unless  we  suppose  Men 
in  their  own  Cause  will  act  uprightly,  against  their 
own  Interest,  which  both  the  Law  of  Nature  and  of 
the  Nation  rejects,  as  a  Matter  not  to  be  depended 
upon,  &c." 

This,  Sir,  is  a  heavy  Charge  indeed!  Laid  upon  the 
whole  Body  of  the  People;  Governor  and  Governed! 
Judges  and  Juries!  All  Tainted  or  Corrupted!  But 
by  the  Laws  of  England  no  Judge  can  sit  upon  his 
own  Cause;  and  the  Chief  Justice  (being  concerned  in 
Interest)  cannot  sit  upon  thesv3  Trials:  Yet  what  should 
hinder  a  fair  Trial  before  Mr.  Justice  Allen*  or  even 
before  Mr.  Justice  Bonnel?  for  if  the  latter  is  concerned 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          333 

in  Interest,  it  is  certainly  on  the  Petitioners  Side  of 
the  Question.  I  was  myself  in  Court,  Mr.  Speaker, 
last  March  was  Twelvemonth  at  Am  boy,  when  the 
I 'I lief  Justice  absolutely  refused  to  sit,  even  whilst  the 
Common  Rules  were  made  upon  these  very  Eject- 
ments; and  Judge  Bonnel  being  sick  at  that  Time,  an 
Express  was  sent  for  Judge  Allen,  who  came  from 
Burlington  to  Perth  Amboy.  only  to  sit  alone  in  Court 
whilst  the  said  Rules  were  enter'd.  So  cautious  was 
that  Gentleman,  the  Chief  Justice,  of  leaving  the  least 
Room  for  Reflection  that  Way;  And  is  it  not  both  un- 
fair and  unjust  for  the  Petitioners  to  suggest,  that  the 
Chief  Justice  would  sit  as  a  Judge  in  his  own  Cause; 
and  therefore  they  could  not  have  a  fair  and  impartial 
Hearing  and  Determination?  But  we  are  highly  obliged 
to  the  Petitioners  for  the  great  Compliment  paid  to  us 
in  the  next  Paragraph ! 

"For  which  Reason  we  humbly  and  earnestly  beg 
^having  our  Eyes  to  the  Legislative  Powers;  from  and 
by  whom  our  Rights,  Properties,  and  Privileges  have 
their  Rise  ami  Support,  &c." 

This  Petition,  Mr.  Speaker,  cannot  have  its  Spring 
from  those  poor  deluded  People;  some  crafty  subtle 
incendiaries  must  be  at  the  bottom  of  it;  for  this 
Parenthesis  attributing  to  the  Legislative  Powers 
( which  must  be  to  the  Legislative  Powers  to  whom 
this  Petition  is  directed)  I  sav  attributing  to  the  Legis- 
lative Powers  here  the  Rise  and  Support  of  their 
Rights,  Properties,  and  Privileges,  is  absolutely  deny- 
ing that  they  have  any  other  Smiive.  Foundation,  or 
Uis«>  and  Support,  and  consequently  denying  their 
Dependance  upon  the  Crown  of  England,  for  their 
Properties,  under  which  all  our  Lands,  by  the  Laws  of 
England,  must  mediately  or  immediately  lie  held: 
And  should  this  Attribute  conferred  on  us  by  the  Peti- 
tioners, he  passed  over  in  Silence  by  this  House  (and 
thereby  made  their  o\vin  I  leave  it  to  their  serious 


334          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Consideration,  whether  it  may  not  be  esteemed  else- 
where a  Consent  to  that  Attribute,  which  I  am  far 
from  thinking  this  House  aim  at;  and  whether  it  may 
not  be  incumbent  on  us  to  demonstrate  so  to  the 
World,  in  the  most  express  and  explicite  Manner  I 
humbly  submit.  To  go  on, 

"That  Way  may  be  made  for  our  Relief  here,  or 
Liberty  of  Application,  by  our  Committee  or  their 
Substitutes,  to  the  Head  and  Fountain  of  Justice,  in 
order  to  seek  the  Redress  of  our  Wrongs  and  Injuries 
we  have  already  received,  and  prevent  the  like  for  the 
future,  &c." 

As  to  this,  Mr.  Speaker,  Mr.  Ogden's  Letter  in  the 
Proprietors  Publication,  before  mentioned,  shews 
clearly,  that  the  Petitioners  have  been  no  Ways  hindred 
from  applying  to  his  Majesty,  in  such  Manner  as  they 
thought  fit:  Nay,  so  far  from  hindering,  that  the  best 
Advice  that  could  be  given,  was  given  to  them  by  Mr. 
Ogden,  (as  they  themselves  will  find,  when  they  advise 
with  any  good  Lawer.)  And  why  have  they  not  now 
in  near  a  Year  and  a  Half,  since  these  Men  were  ani- 
mated against  the  Proprietors  Title,  I  say,  why '  have 
they  not  in  that  Time  applied  to  his  Majesty?  And 
why  they  did  reject  all  the  Assistance  offered  them 
for  that  Purpose,  they  best  know;  but,  I  think,  that 
Delay  shews,  that  that  Application  is  a  mere  Pretence. 
The  Petitioners  further  pray  thus, 

"And  in  the  mean  Time,  that  all  our  past  Miscon- 
duct, If  such,  and  intemperate  Zeal  we  have  any  of 
us  been  guilty  of,  may  pass  away  under  an  Act  of 
Indemnity,  &c." 

I  shall  be  far,  Sir,  from  opposing  a  Pardon  to  the 
Petitioners,  but  shall  rather  promote  it,  and  heartily 
wish  it  may  (if  obtained)  have  the  good  Effect  to  re- 
duce them  to  their  Duty  and  Allegiance  to  his  Majesty 
for  the  future,  which  they  have  certainly  (tho'  many 
of  them,  I  believe,  ignorantly)  violated;  but  I  wish 


\  I'M  I  MSTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          335 

they  had  shown  themselves  to  have  been  more  deserv- 
ing of  it,  by  a  Sense  of,  and  Sorrow  for  the  Crimes 
they  have  been  guilty  of.  And  indeed  I  am  sorry  to 
find  them  to  betray  their  Ignorance  so  much,  to  this 
Honourable  House,  as  to  question,  Whether  apppear- 
ing  in  Arms;  terrifying  the  King's  Subjects;  breaking 
open  Goal,  and  rescuing  the  Prisoners  legally  commit- 
ted by  the  Governor's  Warrant;  assaulting  and  resist- 
ing the  Sheriff  and  his  Assistants,  in  the  legal  Execu- 
tion of  his  Office,  and  beating  and  wounding  them;  I 
say,  Sir,  1  am  sorry  to  find  them  so  ignorant,  as  to 
question  whether  this  be  a  Misconduct  or  not.  The 
Petition  goes  on; 

"  And  may  all  Writs  and  Processes  against  any  of 
us,  relating  to  our  Liberties  and  Properties,  have  a 
Cessation,  at  least  until  such  Time  as  his  Majesty's 
Pleasure  may  and  can  be  known  concerning  them,  &c. " 

As  to  this.  Sir,  his  Majesty's  Pleasure  is  already 
known,  to  wit.  That  his  Courts  of  Justice  (both  of 
Law  and  Equity)  should  be  open  for  every  one  of  his 
Subjects  to  have  Recourse  to;  and  its  the  Right  of  the 
Subject  that  should  be  so.  Nulli  neqabimus,  Nulli 
1 1  <'fc  remits;  Justitiam  vel  Rectum:  We  will  deny  to  no 
one,  We  will  delay  to  no  one,  Justice  or  Right,  is  what 
the  King  is  sworn  to;  and  that  Oath  he  keeps  by 
keeping  Courts  open:  Nor  can  the  King  himself  do 
what  the  Petitioners  pray  this  House  to  do,  to  stay 
the  Proceedings  of  his  Court.  If  a  Title  be  just  and 
equitable  (tho'  not  legal)  there  has  the  King  appointed 
his  Courts  of  Equity  to  be  applied  to,  to  stop  Proceed- 
ings in  Law,  till  the  Equity  of  the  Cause  be  deter- 
mined; but  that  the  King  himself  ever  stopt  the  Course 
of  the  Courts  of  Law,  I  believe  no  Instance  can  be 
assigned,  since  Magna  Charta,  and  if  it  could  be,  it 
would  be  only  proving  that  King  to  have  broke  thro' 
hi-  Coronation  Oath.  The  Petition  concludes  thus; 
And  may  it  please  the  Honourable  House,  that 


336          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

this  our  Petition  be  laid  before  his  Excellency  in  Coun- 
cil. And  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever 
pray." 

This,  Sir,  I  shall  observe  upon,  in  my  Answer  to  the 
next  Petition,  because  that  concludes  much  in  the 
same  Manner. 

I  have  only  now  further  to  observe,  that  five  of  the 
Names  signed  to  this  Petition,  are  the  same  with  those 
who  stand  indicted  by  the  Grand  Jury  of  Essex  Coun- 
ty, for  breaking  open  Goal,  and  committing  a  very 
great  Riot  in  the  Town  of  Newark,  and  against  whom 
the  Governor's  Warrant  was  issued;  and  above  thirty 
more  of  the  Names  signed  to  this  Petition,  are  the 
same  with  those  recorded  as  Eioters,  by  the  Magis- 
trates of  the  County  of  Essex,  as  being  aiding  and 
assisting  in  the  second  Riot  at  Newark,  when  the 
King's  Goal  was  again  broke  open,  and  the  Rioters 
apprehended,  by  Virtue  of  the  Governor's  Warrant, 
rescued,  and  the  Sheriff,  Magistrates,  Officers  and 
those  assisting  them  in  putting  the  Laws  in  Execution, 
beat  and  abused;  and  these  very  Fellows  are  either 
fled,  or  are  screened  from  Justice  by  these  Petitioners. 
Therefore  what  Encouragement,  Sir,  this  Petition 
ought  to  receive  from  this  Honourable  House,  I  sub- 
mit. 

[On  a  Second  Petition.  ] 

I  must  confess  these  Petitioners  appear  with  a  little 
more  Modesty;  this  Petition  is  not  so  abusive  and 
reflecting  as  the  former;  perhaps  the  Draftsman  (for 
I  verily  believe  them,  to  be  done  by  one  and  the  same 
Person)  considering  these  Gentlemen  as  a  Committee 
or  Superintendants  over  the  rest,  confined  himself  the 
more  within  the  Bounds  of  Decency  and  good  Man- 
ners; but  nevertheless  this  Petition  is  a  little  tinctur'd 
with  Sedition,  as  I  shall  shew  by  and  by;  and  there 
are  also  many  Absurdities  and  Untruths  contained  in 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LBWI*  MORRIS.          337 

it,  as  I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  make  appear  plainly  to 
this  Honourable  House,  by  my  Answer  to  the  same, 
which  I  shall  without  more  Delay  enter  upon  as  be- 
fore, Paragraph  by  Paragraph.  The  Petition  begins 
Historically,  viz. 

"That  his  Majesty  King  Charles  the  Second,  did,  in 
the  Sixteenth  Year  of  his  Reign,  March  12th,  grant  to 
his  Royal  Highness  James  Duke  of  York,  all  that  Part 
of  the  Country  in  North  America,  situate  even  from 
Nova  Scotia  Eastwards  unto  Delaware  River,  &c. 
with  Power  to  govern  and  rule  the  Inhabitants  thereof, 
by  himself,  or  such  Deputy  Commissioners  or  Officers 
as  he  should  appoint  for  that  Purpose.  His  Royal 
Highness,  by  Commission  to  Richard  Nicholls,  Esq; 
(April  2d  following)  constituted  him  his  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor, to  execute  (within  the  above  granted  Territories) 
all  the  Powers  granted  to  himself,  &c." 

Situate  even  from  Nova  Scotia  Eastwards  unto  Dele- 
ware  River,  &c.  These  Bounds,  Sir,  (by  the  Petitioners 
described)  of  the  Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York,  shew, 
That  they  either  recite  Facts  upon  Hearsay,  or  do 
falsely  recite  them;  for  were  the  Bounds  so  as  they 
say,  then  would  the  Colonies  of  Massachusets  or  Bos- 
ton, Rhode-Island  and  Connecticut  be  included  in  that 
Grant;  but  the  Fact  is  not  so:  For  the  Truth  is,  That 
a  Tract  of  Land,  called  Pemaquid,  iKmnding  on  Nova 
Scotia;  is  thereby  granted,  then  Long  Island,  then  all 
the  Land  from  Connecticut  River  to  Delaware  River. 
But  to  go  on; 

"Said  Nicholls  (Anno  lt>«4)  issued  Proclamation,  &c. 
setting  forth.  That  the  Lands  should  l>e  purchased  of 
the  Indians,  and  that  no  Purchaser  should  contract  for 
himself  without  Consent  of  his  Associates,  or  Grant 
from  the  Governor:  That  the  Purchasers  should  be 
free  from  Assessments  or  Rates  five  Years,  and  then 
should  only  be  liable  to  the  publick  Rates,  &c.  accord- 
ing to  the  Custom  of  other  new  Planters  and  Settlers: 
tt 


338          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

And  that  all  Lands  so  purchased  and  possessed,  should 
be  the  Purchasers  and  the  Heirs,  to  dispose  of  as  they 
pleased,  &c." 

This  Proclamation,  Sir,  I  never  saw,  nor  heard  of 
before,  and  if  any  such  was,  I  make  no  doubt  (if  they'll 
produce  it)  it  will  appear  to  be  no  less  falsely  recited 
than  the  King's  Grant  to  the  Duke  of  York:  But 
what  Relation  those  two  Things  have  to  New  Jersey, 
I  cannot  see;  nor  has  the  Petition  told  any  Use  they 
were  to  make  of  them:  They  clearly  shew  either  the 
Falsehood  or  Injudiciousness  of  the  Drawer  of  the  Pe- 
tition. However  to  proceed. 

"  That  his  Royal  Highness  gave  to  Lord  Barclay  and 
Sir  George  Carteret  the  Province  or  Colony  of  New- 
Jersey  so  called,  with  Power  of  Governance,  which 
caused  a  Supercession  in  the  Commission  and  Powers 
aforesaid.  Lord  Barclay  and  Sir  George  Carteret,  by 
Virtue  of  the  Power  invested  in  them,  constituted 
Philip  Carteret  their  Governor,  who  (Anno  1666) 
granted  Licence  to  sundry  Persons  by  Name  and  Com- 
pany (under  which  your  Petitioners  claim)  under  his 
Hand  and  Seal,  to  purchase  from  the  Indians  within 
this  Government,  what  Quantity  of  Land  they  should 
think  convenient,  Beginning  by  the  Bay,  &c.  and 
thence  Westivard,  or  in  any  other  Places  in  the  Pro- 
vince. Pursuant  to  which  your  Petitioners  Ancestors 
made  several  Purchases,  by  and  with  the  Advice  and 
Consent  of  said  Governor  Carteret,  as  is  in  the  said 
Deeds  or  Grants  asserted;  the  which  were  taken  and 
acknowledged  before  him;  the  Testimony  whereof  he 
has  left  under  his  own  Hand,  &c." 

What  Licence  this  is,  Mr.  Speaker,  and  to  whom 
granted,  I  am  at  a  Loss  to  know,  from  any  thing  in 
the  Petition,  seeing  its  not  expressed,  nor  do  they 
offer  to  shew  this  Licence,  if  any  such  was,  nor  tell  us 
where  it  is  recorded:  But  if  any  such  ever  was,  I 
think  I  can  be  bold  to  say  it's  falsely  recited;  Because 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          339 

I  am  well  informed  there  are  many  Licences  upon 
Record  from  Governor  Carteret  to  purchase  of  the 
Indians  and  that  they  all  refer  to  the  Concessions  of 
the  Proprietors  expressly,  that  the  Persons  shall  com- 
ply with  all  the  Directions  thereof:  And  I  think  I 
dare  safely  challenge  the  Petitioners  to  produce  any 
Licence  from  him  to  purchase,  without  such  Reference 
to  the  Concessions;  and  if  any  such  Licence  be,  and 
it  has  such  Reference,  I  submit  to  this  House  how  dif- 
ferent a  Light  it  will  appear  in  from  what  by  this  Pe- 
tition it  is  represented:  For  tho'  they  had  made  pur- 
chase from  the  Indians,  it  plainly  appears  from  the 
Concessions,  That  that  was  not  to  be  their  Title;  but 
their  Title  was  to  consist  of  a  Warrant,  Survey,  and 
Patent,  at  a  Half -penny  sterling  per  Acre;  and  in  the 
Second  Concessions,  in  1672,  and  Third  Concessions, 
in  1674,  it's  expressly  forbidden,  That  Indian  Deeds 
should  be  taken  in  any  other  Name  than  the  Proprie- 
tors. '  The  Petition  Proceeds  thus. 

"As  the  Inhabitants  encreased,  &c.  our  Ancestors, 
their  Associates,  and  some  of  us,  were  constrained  to 
make  further  Compositions  with  the  Indians,  about 
their  Lands,  who  (as  they  were  the  Native  Owners, 
true  Proprietors,  and  Possessors  of  the  same)  would 
not  permit  either  Survey  or  Settlement  thereon,  with- 
out a  precedent  Purchase  made  thereof,  &c.  Accord- 


1  Copy  of  one  of  Governor  Carteret's  Licences  to 
purchase  of  the  Indians;  as  recorded  in  Lib  1,  Fol.  !). 

WHEREAS  Mr.  Isaac  Tenna,  alias  La  piere,  hath  requested  my  Leave,  for  the  pur- 
chasing of  n  certain  Tract  of  Land  from  the  Indians,  on  the  East  Side  of  Delaware 
River,  within  this  Government,  with  an  Intent  to  inhabit  and  plant  the  same;  These 
are  therefore  to  permit  and  suffer  the  said  Isaac  to  purchase  the  said  Tract  of  Land 
from  the  Indians,  -Upon  Condition,  that  he  truly  perform  all  suck  Acts  and  things, 
•••re  contained  in  the  Lords  Proprietors  Concessions,  and  to  be  conformable  and 
obedient  to  the  Laws  of  this  Province.  Given  under  my  Hand  and  Seal  of  the  Pro- 
vince, the  24th  June.  160U. 

PHILIP  CABTKRXT. 

[Other  licences  are  named.] 


340          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

ingly,  (the  Right  to  Purchase  being  vested  in  our 
•Ancestors  and  us)  sundry  Purchases  have  been  made 
of  the  Natives,  &c.  by  those  under  whom  we  claim, 
and  by  some  of  our  selves;  as  per  sundry  Grants  or 
Deeds,  duly  executed  from  March,  167$,  to  March, 
1703,  for  sundry  Tracts  of  Land,  situate  in  the  County 
of  Essex,  viz.  about  Newark,  and  West  of  the  Moun- 
tains unto  Passaik  Eiver,  and  in  the  adjacent  Parts 
and  Places  within  this  Colony,  as  namely  Acquack,  so 
called,  Whipponung  and  Pefiponung,  &c.  may  appear: 
All  which  Lands  have  been  by  us,  our  -Associates  or 
Ancestors,  fairly  purchased;  and  a  great  Part  of  them 
planted,  settled  and  improved,  for  which  we  have  paid 
Rates  and  Taxes,  as  an  Acknowledgement  to  the  Cro  wn, 
&c.  The  which  your  Petitioners  look  upon  as  a  just 
Foundation  of  a  Title  to  them,  against  those  especially 
who  have  not  been  at  any  Expence  in  Purchasing, 
&c." 

If  the  Petitioners  Ancestors,  Sir,  had  a  Licence  to 
purchase,  and  that  License  had  a  Reference  to  the 
Concessions,  as  before;  yet,  as  the  Concessions  directed 
what  should  be  the  Title,  viz.  Warrant,  Survey  and 
Patent,  and  directed  all  Indian  Deeds  to  be  in  the  Pro- 
prietors Name,  and  as  the  Act  of  Assembly,  of  1683, 
made  it  criminal  to  take  such  Deeds  in  any  other  Name 
than  the  Proprietors,  how  can  they  say  that  those 
Lands  have  been  fairly  purchased  by  their  Ancestors, 
from  March  1678,  to  March  1703?  For  if  fairly  pur- 
chased, by  License,  pursuant  to  the  Concessions,  the 
Deeds  are  in  the  Proprietors  Names;  if  not  so,  and 
since  1683,  they  not  only  are  not  fairly  purchased,  but 
Criminally;  and  if  fairly  purchased,  yet  no  Title  (ac- 
cording to  the  Concessions)  could  they  have,  without 
Warrant,  Survey  and  Patent,  at  a  Half-penny  sterl. 
per  Acre,  as  the  Concessions  direct.  And  I  make  no 
doubt,  but  that  great  Numbers  of  the  Ancestors  of  the 
Subscribers  to  the  first  Petition,  have  Warrants,  Sur- 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  GOVERNOR  LEWIS   MORRIS.          341 

veys  and  Patents,  for  all  the  Lands  that  they  were 
intitled  to  by  the  Concessions;  and  if  they  had  them 
not,  it  was  their  own  Fault.  These  petitioners  say 
further, 

"And  since  it  appears,  both  by  the  Law  of  Nature 
and  Nations,  that  the  Indian  Natives  had  a  Right  to 
and  in  the  aforesaid  Lands,  and  could  not  justly  be 
deprived  of  them,  without  a  voluntary  Agreement  to 
part  with  them;  and  seeing  Purchases  of  them  must 
necessarily  be  made,  in  order  to  vest  the  Fee  and  Soil 
in  the  Crown,  consonant  unto  the  Practice  of  even  all 
his  Majesty's  Subjects  (or  the  most  of  them)  in  these 
Parts  of  his  Dominions,  the  which  is  manifest  by  the 
Directions  given  by  his  Majesty,  and  Licences  granted 
by  his  Governors  unto  this  End:  And  who  sees  not 
(saving  only  such  of  whom  it  may  be  said  that  the 
Dust  of  earthly  Profits  has  put  out  their  Eyes)  how 
directly  and  necessarily  it  will  follow,  That  those  ef 
his  Majesty's  Liege  Subjects,  who  have  duly  made 
such  Purchases,  may  truly  be  accounted  and  acknowl- 
edged the  Lawful  Owners  and  Proprietors  of  the  Land 
so  purchased.  Hence  therefore  we  having  made  the 
Purchases,  Settlements  and  Improvements,  and  paid 
all  due  Acknowledgements  as  aforesaid,  even  for  some 
Scores  of  Years,  &c.  do  humbly  conceive  ourselves 
justly  intitled  to  the  quiet  and  peaceable  Possession 
and  Enjoyment  thereof;  the  Claims  and  Pretences  of 
our  Adversaries  notwithstanding,  &c." 

Upon  this,  Sir,  I  shall  beg  Leave  to  read  so  much  of 
the  Proprietors  Pubublication  as  is  upon  this  Head. 
To  go  on  with  the  Petition: 

"And  consequently  the  commencing  of  Suits,  and 
carrying  on  such  Prosecutions  by  our  Adversaries,  on 
their  Pretences,  and  under  our  Circumstances,  your 
Petitioners  humbly  conceive  must  be  looked  upon  as 
unjust,  illegal  and  oppressive.  But  so  it  is;  (not  to 
mention  the  Circumstances  of  this  Colony,  and  the 


342          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Officers  thereof,  many  of  whom  appear  our  Opponents 
as  being  on  t'other  Side  of  the  Question)  notwithstand- 
ing the  Justice  and  Equity  of  our  Right  and  Claim, 
and  the  unjust  and  unwarrantable  Pretence  of  the 
contrary  Party,  divers  Persons,  seeking  to  make  Gain 
of  our  Improvements,  as  well  as  Lands,  claiming  by 
mean  Conveyances  from  the  said  Duke  of  York,  with- 
out so  much  as  a  Pretence  of  any  Purchase  having 
been  by  them  (or  any  others  for  them  made,  or  Grants 
obtained  of  or  from  the  Native  Owners  and  Proprietors, 
have  commenced  Multiplicities  of  Suits  against  many 
of  us  for  Recovery  of  our  Possessions  and  Monies, 
whereby  they  have  obtained  some  Possessions  and 
more  Judgments;  the  Consequence  of  which  is,  and 
will  be,  (unless  a  Way  may  be  found  and  taken  for 
our  Redress)  the  Depriving  us  of  our  Lands  and  Liv- 
ings, which  we  have  spent  our  Strength  and  Substance 
upon,  and  burdening  us  with  heavy  Costs,  Charges 
and  Expences,  to  the  Subversion  and  Destruction  of 
our  Families,  with  respect  to  the  Comforts  of  this 
Life:  And  in  Addition  to  all  this,  threaten  us  further, 
unless  we  comply  with  their  Terms,  which  are  (in  our 
Apprehension)  extremely  severe,  &c." 

In  speaking  to  the  other  Petition,  Mr.  Speaker,  I 
have  said,  That  the  General  Proprietors  are  not  privy 
to  the  Suits  complained  of;  and  as  to  the  Suits  of  two 
Persons  who  are  Proprietors,  I  then  referr'd  to  their 
Answers  on  that  Head,  which  I  think  are  very  suffi- 
cient to  shew  they  have  been  both  kind  and  candid  in 
all  their  Transactions  with  those  People,  and  done 
nothing  illegal,  unjust,  or  oppressive;  if  they  have,  it 
will  lie  on  the  Petitioners,  to  point  it  out:  For  the 
Using  the  due  Course  of  the  Law  to  obtain  what  one 
believes  is  his  Right  tho'  it  should  even  not  prove  so,  I 
believe  was  never  till  now  deemed  Illegal,  Unjust  or 
Oppressive.  As  to  burdening  them  with  heavy  Costs, 
Charges  and  Expences;  by  those  two  Gentlemen's 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          343 

Answers  it  appears,  they  have  not  been  as  yet  put  to 
One  Penny  Costs,  nor  had  they  (as  I  believe)  thought 
of  doing  it.  How  far  those  People's  Conduct  will 
oblige  the  Gentlemen  to  alter  their  Minds  on  this  Head, 
is  what  I  don't  know.  The  Petition  says. 

"It  would  even  fill  a  Volume  to  enumerate  all  our 
Grievances;  may  your  Petitioners  crave  Leave  to  refer 
you  to  what  is  inserted  in  Mr.  Parker's  Post-Boy  of 
Feb.  17th,  and  in  the  Petition  preferr'd  by  our  Con- 
stituents, setting  forth  the  same,  in  which  we  concur, 
&c." 

As  to  Mr.  Parker's  Post- Boy,  Sir,  I  humbly  conceive 
the  Proprietors  have  given  a  full  and  compleat  Answer 
to  it,  whereto  I  refer  for  Answer  to  that:  However, 
I  beg  leave  to  observe  here,  That  this  Paragraph 
shews,  that  these  Petitioners  concur  with  the  Rioters, 
in  every  thing  they  have  done  and  publish'd;  and 
therefore  this  Committee  (as  they  are  pleased  to  stile 
themselves)  are  no  less  tinctur'd  with  the  Spirit  and 
Seeds  of  Sedition,  than  their  Constituents,  as  they  call 
the  Rioters;  notwithstanding  their  fair  and  specious 
Pretences  to  the  contrary;  for  by  their  own  Expres- 
sions it  plainly  appears,  they  are  Aiders  and  Abettors 
of  these  Riots,  though  perhaps  they  may  not  person- 
ally appear  publickly  in  them.  They  proceed  thus: 

"And  upon  the  Whole,  we  beg  Leave  to  observe, 
That  should  we  attempt  a  Composition  with  our  Ad- 
versaries or  Opponents,  meaning  the  Proprietors,  there 
will  remain  a  perpetual  Uncertainity  who  are  the  True 
Owners  and  Proprietors,  even  by  and  according  to 
their  own  Scheme;  not  to  insist  upon  their  putting  off 
False  Wares,  (we  mean)  Sham  Titles,  bare  Quit- 
Claims,  for  Lands  unappropriated,  and  not  so  much 
as  located,  for  and  under  a  good  Title  to  the  Premises, 
even  such  as  shall  be  secure  to  the  Grantees,  their 
Heirs  and  Assigns.  Many  Examples  and  Instances 
we  might  bring  as  Evidences  hereof;  and  shew,  how 


344          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [l746 

the  poor,  weak,  simple  and  ignorant  Men  have  been 
beguiled,  &c.  And  likewise  when  diverse  of  our  As- 
sociates, who  to  quiet  themselves,  and  prevent  great 
Loss,  Trouble  and  Charge  in  the  Law,  (having  none 
other  Refuge  or  Remedy)  have  purchased  of  some  such 
pretended  Proprietors,  &c.  yet  have  been  forced  to 
purchase  again,  or  meet  with  the  same  Difficulty  they 
intended  to  avoid  by  the  former  Purchase;  so  uncer- 
tain and  precarious  are  their  Rights,  even  among 
themselves,  that  no  certain  Dependance  can  be  had  on 
them,  &c." 

By  allowing.  Sir,  any  other  than  the  Crown  of  Eng- 
land and  its  Assigns,  to  be  the  true  Owners  and  Pro- 
prietors, a  perpetual  Uncertainty  would  evidently 
follow  who  were  the  true  Owners  and  Proprietors;  and 
for  that  Reason  it  was,  that  by  the  fundamental  Con- 
cessions, all  Deeds  from  the  Indians  were  to  be  in  the 
Proprietors  Names;  for  that  Reason  it  was,  that  the 
Act  of  Assembly  of  1683,  made  it  criminal  and  sedi- 
tious, to  take  Deeds  from  the  Indians  in  any  other 
Name;  and  for  that  Reason  it  was,  that  the  first  Act 
in  our  printed  Book  of  Laws,  made  all  Indian  Deeds 
void,  if  the  Right  of  the  Crown  was  not  purchased  in 
six  Months  after  that  Act  was  published;  so  that  the 
Constitutions  and  Laws  of  this  Province,  have  suffi- 
ciently provided  against  the  Uncertainty  in  Titles, 
that  the  Petitioners  would  bring  into  this  Colony.  It 
appears,  Mr.  Speaker,  that  Sedition  was  the  natural 
Effect  of  such  Uncertainty;  and  therefore  they  by  Law 
appointed  the  Punishment  of  Sedition  to  be  inflicted 
on  those,  who  should  attempt  to  introduce  such  Uncer- 
tainty, as  Breakers  of  the  Kings  Peace,  and  the  Peace 
of  the  Province.  As  to  the  Proprietors  putting  off 
false  Wares,  sham  Titles,  &c.  it  appears  by  the  Pro- 
prietors Publication,  that  this  is  altogether  a  Calumny 
of  them,  and  can  be  only  true  of  Doctor  Jacob  Arents, 
who  is  no  Proprietor,  and  possibly  of  some  other  Im- 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS    MORRIS.          345 

posters  among  the  Petitioners,  pretending  to  be  Pro- 
prietors: But  are  the  Proprietors  to  blame  on  Account 
of  those  Pretenders  (  Have  not  they  done  their  Duty, 
by  forewarning  the  People  of  Jacob  Arents,  by  Name, 
six  years  ago,  [See  Proprietors  Publication,]  and  of 
such  Pretenders  (  Did  not  they  there  point  out  a  very 
easy  Way  to  discover  such  Pretenders  {  And  can  they 
say  the  Proprietors  ever  countenanced  or  approved 
such  Pretenders  {  Or  that  any  other  ever  came  to 
their  Knowledge,  save  only  Jacob  Arents  ?  But  to  go 
on  with  the  Petition; 

"Wherefore  we  must,  together  with  our  Fellow 
Men  and  Brethren,  as  Partakers  with  them  in  the  like 
Sufferings,  humbly  pray  our  deplorable  Circumstances 
may  be  duly  weigh'd  and  considered,  that  Way  may 
be  made  by  our  Legislative  Powers,  for  our  Relief  and 
Help,  even  by  giving,  granting  and  confirming  to  us, 
that  which  has  been,  and  now  is,  or  should  be,  the 
undoubted  Right  and  Privilege  of  every  true  English 
Subject,  under  Oppressions  and  Distresses,  freely  and 
without  Let,  to  seek  (and  use  all  lawful  Means  to  ob- 
tain) Redress  of  his  Wrongs  and  Grievances:  This  is 
what  we  singly  and  sincerely  aim  at,  viz.  By  humble 
Application  to  his  Majesty  in  Council,  petitioning  him 
of  his  Royal  Goodness,  to  determine  for  us,  in  such 
Manner  as  may  be  most  consistent  with  Law  and 
Right,  &c." 

As  to  this  Prayer,  Sir,  I  hope  every  English  Subject 
is  possessed  of  it,  viz.  freely  and  without  Let,  to  seek 
(and  -use  all  lawful  Means  to  obtain)  Redress  of  his 
Wrongs  and  Grievances  I  Has  not  his  Majesty  ap- 
pointed Courts  of  Justice,  both  of  Law  and  Equity, 
in  this  Province  for  that  Purpose?  Have  not  those 
Courts  been  open  for  every  one  (  Has  not  his  Majesty 
appointed  the  proper  Appeals  to  himself  in  his  Privy 
Council,  from  all  those  Courts,  to  redress  what  Errors 
they  may  happen  to  commit  ?  And  have  those  Courts 


346          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

done  any  Thing  to  hinder  the  Petitioners,  or  any  of 
them  of  the  common  Course  of  Justice;  or  ever  been 
shut  against  them  ?  And  as  the  Petitioners  are  intitled 
to  that  Course  of  Justice,  appointed  by  his  Majesty  in 
those  Courts,  and  in  that  Method;  so  I  hope,  Mr. 
Speaker,  the  Proprietors  and  all  other  Subjects  of  this 
Province,  are  in  like  Manner  intitled;  and  that  none 
will  be  so  bold,  besides  the  Petitioners,  to  attempt  the 
stopping  the  Course  of  Justice  in  those  Courts:  If  the 
Petitioners  will  apply  to  his  Majesty  in  the  first  In- 
stance, without  bringing  their  Cause  before  him,  in 
the  Method  he  has  appointed,  viz.  by  Appeal  from  one 
of  the  Courts  here,  has  any  Body  hinder'd  them  from 
taking  that  Course  if  they  thought  proper  ?  It  appears 
by  Mr.  Ogden's  Letter  (as  I  mentioned  before)  that  he 
even  offered  these  Petitioners  (the  Committee)  to  lend 
them  a  sufficient  Sum  of  Money  for  that  Purpose  upon 
their  own  Bond.  This  Petition  concludes  thus; 

"'And  may  the  Honourable  House  (if  in  your  Wis- 
dom it  is  thought  expedient)  lay  this  our  humble  Peti- 
tion before  his  Excellency  our  Governor  in  Council. 
And  your  Petitioners,  as  in  Duty  bound,  shall  always 
pray. 

John  Condict,  Nathaniel  Wheeler, 

Samuel  Baldwin,      Samuel  Harrison, 
Michael  Cook,  Jonathan  Pierson, 

Michael  Vreelandt,  Nathaniel  Camp." 

I  shall  be  far  from  agreeing,  Sir,  that  this  House 
should  be  the  Petitioners  Messengers,  to  lay  these  Pe- 
titions before  the  Governor  in  Council,  lest  it  should 
look  as  an  Approbation  of  several  Things  in  them, 
improper  to  be  said  to  this  House  without  shewing  a 
proper  Resentment,  as  particularly  the  attributing 
their  Properties  to  have  their  Rise  and  Support  from 
us,  which  Attribute  is  only  justly  due  to  his  Majesty, 
our  only  Supreme  Lord,  George  the  Second,  (whom 
God  long  preserve,  and  keep  free  from  all  rebellions, 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          347 

dangerous  Riots,  and  tumultuous  Assemblies,  all  which 
threaten  the  Subversion  of  our  Happy  Constitution, 
and  may  render  us  an  easy  Prey  to  our  Enemies)  and 
all  that  we  can  do  is,  to  enquire  into  and  present  the 
Grievances  of  the  People  we  represent,  (when  any 
such  really  appear  before  us)  and  sue  for  Redress. 

Upon  the  Whole,  Mr.  Speaker,  by  all  that  has  been 
said,  1  think  it  plainly  appears,  that  the  Petitioners 
have  sate  themselves  down,  and  taken  Possession  of 
several  Tracts  of  Land,  without  any  real  Right  and 
Title  to  the  same:  and  have  occupy 'd  and  taken  the 
Profits  of  them  so  long  to  themselves,  without  making 
any  Satisfaction  to  the  true  Owners  and  Proprietors 
thereof,  that  they  now  begin  to  think  in  good  earnest, 
that  they  have  the  best  Right  to  those  Lands,  and 
that  the  true  and  bona  fide  landlord  is  a  Cheat!  and  an 
Impostor!  And  when  he  comes  to  seek  for  his  own, 
he  is  branded  as  an  Invader  of  their  Liberties  and 
Properties  truly,  and  charged  with  unjust  Molestation 
and  virulent  Oppression :  These  are  Regular  and  Sure 
Steps  indeed  to  acquire  Estates!  I  must  own,  Sir,  I 
have  been  very  long  and  tedious  in  this  Affair,  but  as 
there  has  been  a  great  Misunderstanding  and  wide 
Difference  subsisting  between  the  Proprietors  of  East 
New-Jersey,  and  some  Sort  of  People,  I  could  not  be 
silent,  and  suffer  such  gross  Absurdities,  and  manifest 
Untruths  to  be  imposed  upon  the  Honourable  the 
Representatives  of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey,  without 
endeavouring  in  the  fullest  and  most  open  Manner,  to 
set  every  Circumstance  in  a  clear  Light,  supported  by 
the  Records  and  Matters  of  Fact;  and  I  think  the  Peti- 
tioners have  offer'd  neither  in  Support  of  their  Pre- 
tences. Wherefore,  and  for  that  this  House  is  no 
Court  of  Justice  to  examine  into  Titles  to  Lands,  or 
any  Property  in  Question  between  his  Majesty's  Sub- 
jects, (tho'  we  have  Right  to  enquire  into  the  Mai- 
Administration  of  Courts  of  Justice,  if  any  such  were 
complained  of,  but  no  such  Thing  appears  here)  I  say, 


348          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

for  these  Reasons,  I  humbly  move,  that  these  Petitions 
may  be  rejected. 

Yet  nevertheless,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  shew  that  I  am 
entirely  free  from  Resentment,  and  in  Compassion  to 
a  great  Number  of  poor  People,  who  may  have  been 
seduced  into  the  late  Riots  thro'  their  Ignorance,  and 
for  restoring  the  Peace  of  the  Colony,  I  further  move, 
that  this  Honourable  House  would  be  pleased  to  apply 
to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  (either  by  a  short  Ad- 
dress or  Message  as  they  shall  think  proper)  to  extend 
his  Majesty's  Mercy  to  those  People  by  a  general  Par- 
don, under  such  Restrictions  and  upon  such  Conditions 
as  to  his  Excellency  shall  deem  proper. 

[N.  B.  The  great  Number  of  &c's  in  these  two  Peti- 
tions are  not  owing  to  any  Omissions  of  the  Words  of 
the  Petitions,  but  to  a  Peculiarity  in  the  Stile  of  the 
Drawer:  The  like  may  be  seen,  in  the  Paper  printed 
in  the  Post-Boy  of  February  17th,  referred  to  in  the 
last  Petition,  where  there  are  21  &c's;  but  these  two 
Petitions  are  still  more  plentifully  graced  with  them, 
as  their  Number  amounts  to  38.] 


Petition  to  the  House  of  Representatives  by  certain 
of  the  Rioters. 

I  From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  P.,  and 
from  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  5,  F.  86,  Enclosure.] 

To  the  Honourable  House  of  Bepresentatives 
of  the  Colonie  of  New  Jersey  convened  in 
General  Assembly  April  24^  Anno  Dom: 
1746. 

May  it  please  your  Honnours 

Whereas  it  is  set  forth  by  the  Council  of  Proprietors 
So  called  in  their  printed  Memorial  of  March  25*.h  1746, 
That  their  Basis  or  foundation  Respecting  their  Titles 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          349 

to  the  Lands  Scituate  in  New  Jersey  Stands  firm  and 
strong,  And  that  their  properties  Rents,  and  Fran- 
chises were  Secured  and  Established  to  them  by  Con 
cessions  of  the  Crown  upon  their  Surrendering  the 
Government  &c:  And  if  the  fundamental  Rule  (as 
they  term  it  Calling  it  an  Act  of  1683  touching  Indian 
purchases,  Stands  good  as  an  Established  Law  and 
Act  of  this  Province  Rendring  all  those  Criminal  who 
have  not  acted  in  Concert  therewith,  who  sees  not  the 
Advantage  accruing  to  said  Proprietors  Even  above 
any  or  all  others  in  and  by  the  dessign  on  foot  viz*  of 
Sending  home  to  England,  whence  it  must  necessarily 
follow  that  their  regretting  a  matter  of  So  great  Con- 
cern as  for  the  Peace  and  Tr,anquility  of  the  Country 
which  they  allow  themselves  have  much  at  heart,  and 
which  (according  to  their  Induction  Set  forth  in  their 
print  aforesaid)  must  needs  be  Detrimental  to  the  pur- 
chasers as  tending  to  the  Subversion  of  their  Interest 
and  propertie  in  the  Lands  purchased  by  them  and 
rendering  their  Application  home  of  no  Validity)  can- 
not but  be  deemed  (in  men  of  Such  Carecter  and  De- 
stinction  as  many  of  them  bear  and  Carry)  a  thing 
rare  and  Strange  if  not  without  any  precedent,  But 
all  this  notwithstanding,  we  your  Petitioners  having 
humbly  offered  our  Address  to  the  Legislative  Powers. 
Do  yet  beg  Leave  further  to  Add  That  meeting  with 
Something  Like  an  Offer  in  Mr.  Ogden's  Letter  N?  4 
in  the  print  aforesaid,  wherein  is  Set  forth  a  Message 
Sent  to  Some  of  the  Committee  (by  an  Unfaithful  Mes- 
senger Surely,  or  they  must  have  heard  Something  of 
it  before)  Proposing  a  Tryal  at  Law  in  this  Province 
with  them  in  order  to  carry  the  matters  in  dispute  to 
England  by  an  Appeal  &c:  And  that  he  would  Com- 
mence An  Action  for  that  purpose  against  Such  person 
as  they  Should  name  &c:  the  which  being  So  Agree- 
able with  and  unto  what  we  have  had  a  dessign  for  & 
desire  unto,  as  hath  been  declared  by  our  repeated 


350          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Offers,  made  them  to  that  end  and  purpose.  We  shall 
gladly  Embrace  the  Opportunity  to  Joyn  in  Issue  ac- 
cording to  the  aforesaid  proposall  for  a  Tryal  in  a 
Court  of  Law  and  do  accordingly  desire  the  Action 
may  be  commenced  and  brought  against  Francis  Speire 
of  horsneck  so  called  Provided  in  the  meantime  That 
all  Writts  &  processes  against  us  may  Cease  and  we 
with  All  We  have  by  Delegation  Concern  in  and  for 
may  be  Secure  in  holding  their  and  our  Rights  and 
Possessions  Untill  the  Matters  in  Controversy  shall 
have  a  full  &  finall  Determination,  at  home.  Unless  it 
Shall  please  Either  partie  to  give  up.  or  come  to  Some 
Composition  otherways  by  Concessions.  And  may  our 
several  Remonstrances  &  Petitions  have  their  due 
weight  in  your  wise  Administrations  and  Consulta- 
tions to  the  end  we  may  obtain  our  Rights  and  Privi- 
ledges  Unitedly  &  Repeatedly  desired  &  requested) 
confirmed  by  our  Legislative  Powers  and  your  Peti- 
tioners as  in  Duty  bound  Shall  allways  Pray. 

NATHANEL  WHEELER 
SAM"  HARRISON 
JONATHAN  PERSON 
JOHN  CONDICT 
NATHANEL  CAMP 
SAMUEL  BALDWIN 
MICHEL  COOKE 

P.  S:  It  is  desired  that  the  Proprietors  so  Called  Con- 
cerned in  the  premisses  Shall  come  under  obligation 
agreeable  to  said  Proposals  and  Provisos  in  order  to 
try  the  Action  above  mentioned. 


351 


List  of  Rioters  in  Essex  County  1746. 

[From  Papers  of  James  Alexander  in  Rutherfurd  Collection.  Vol.  I.) 

List  of  Rioters  in  Essex  County  Returned  upon 
a  Record  of  View  (on  a  Second  Riot)  filed 
in  the  Supream  Court  in  May  term  1746: 


Amos  Roberts 
Daniel  Crane  Junr 
Caleb  Ward 
John  Brown  Junr 
Samuel  Ogden 
Samuel  Parkins 
John  Dod 

Theophilus  Burwell 
Timothy  Miaker 
Elisha  Lyndsley 
Benjamin  Perry 
Josiah  Lindsley 
Nathaniel  Ball 
Nathan  Baldwin 
Ely  Kent 

Jonathan  Davis  Jun.r 
Paul  Day 
Zebedee  Brown 
John  Garner 
Thomas  Day  Jun.r 
Ephriam  Cornfield 
Abell  Ward 


Azariah  Craine 
Caleb  Bawldwin 
John  Harrison 
Morris  Brown 
Thomas  Lamson 
Jotham  Condict 
Daniel  Taylor  Junr 
Timothy  BaU 
Bethune  Pierson 
Aaron  Ball 
Ldvines  Vincent 
John  Wells 
John  Baker 
Amos  Bawldwin 
Thomas  Day 
Isaac  Vangiesin 
Joseph  Williams 
David  Bawldwin 
Ebenezar  Lindsley 
Amos  Day 
Esekill  Ball 
Amos  Harrison 


N  B  the  Circumstances  of  the  above  Riots  |  and  of 
those  in  1745  and  1747]  were  the  gathering  together  of 
great  Numbers  of  people  Armed:  Assaulting  and 
wounding  Sheriffs  and  other  Officers:  Breaking  open 
County  Goals:  and  Rescuing  and  Releasing  prisoners, 
Legally  Committed. 


352         ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 


Commission  to  Robert  H.  Morris,  Lewis  Johnston 
and  Elisha  Parker — to  run  the  line  between  East 
and  West  Jersey. 

[From  Copy  among  Papers  of  Ferd.  John  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society 
Library,  Bundle  6,  No. ;».] 

GEORGE  The  Second  by  the  grace  of  God  of  Great 
Britain  France  &  Ireland  King  Defender  of  The  Faith 
to  all  whom  These  presents  shall  come  Greeting 
Whereas  by  an  Act  of  The  Governor  Council  and  As- 
sembly of  New  Jersey  Passed  in  the  fifth  Year  of  the 
Reign  of  Our  late  Royal  Father  King  George  The 
First  Entitled  an  Act  for  Running  and  Assertaining 
The  Line  of  Partition  or  Division  between  The  Eastern 
and  Western  Divisions  of  The  Province  of  New  Jersey 
and  for  preventing  disputes  for  The  future  concerning 
The  same  and  for  Securing  to  the  General  Proprietors 
of  The  Soil  of  each  of  The  Divisions  and  Persons 
Claiming  under  Them  their  Several  and  Respective  Pos- 
sessions Rights  and  Just  Claims  John  Hamilton,  David 
Lyell,  George  Willocks,  and  John  Harrison  Esqr.8  were 
by  the  Said  Act  appointed  to  be  Commissioners  or 
Managers  for  the  Eastern  Divisions  of  New  Jersey 
with  The  powers  Mentioned  in  The  said  Act  And 
Whereas  by  the  said  act  it  is  Provided  that  in  case 
any  of  the  Commissioners  or  managers  aforesaid 
Should  Die  Then  and  in  That  Case  The  Governor  for 
The  time  being  was  Thereby  Im powered  to  appoint 
one  in  The  Place  of  The  Person  So  dying  who  by  the 
said  Act  is  declared  to  be  vested  with  the  same  powers 
and  subjected  to  the  same  Directions  as  in  The  said 
Act  is  sett  down  to  the  Managers  Therein  Named. 

And  Whereas  The  said  David  Lyell,  George  Willocks 
and  John  Harrisou  are  since  Dead  Now  KNOW  YE  That 
John  Hamilton  Esq^  President  of  our  Council  and  Com- 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MOURIS.          353 

mander  in  Cheif  of  our  Province  of  New  Jersey  who 
by  our  Commission  and  Instructions  to  his  Excellency 
Lewis  Morris  Esqr  late  Governor  of  our  Province  of 
New  Jersey  for  the  time  being  hath  pursuant  to  the 
said  Act  appointed  Robert  Hunter  Morris  Esq.  Lewis 
Johnston  and  Elisha  Parker  Gen'  to  be  Commissioners 
and  Managers  for  the  Eastern  Division  of  New  Jersey 
in  The  place  of  The  said  David  Lyell,  George  Willocks 
and  John  Harrrison  to  use  and  Exercise  all  the  powers 
Vested  in  the  said  David  Lyell,  George  Willocks  and 
John  Harrison  by  the  said  Act  and  the  said  Robert 
Hunter  Morris  Lewis  Johnston  and  Elisha  Parker  here- 
by accordingly  appointed,  In  Testimony  whereof  we 
have  caused  These  our  letters  to  be  made  Patent  and 
The  Great  Seal  of  our  Province  of  New  Jersey  to  be 
hereunto  Affixed  Witness  our  trusty  and  well  beloved 
John  Hamilton  Esq^  President  of  our  Councill  and 
Commander  in  Cheif  of  our  Province  of  New  Jersey 
by  and  with  The  advice  of  The  Council  The  Eleventh 
day  of  May  in  the  Twentieth  Year  of  our  Reign- 
Read By  his  honours  Command  Recorded  and  Ex- 
amined hy  Thomas  Bartovv  Sectf 


fitter  from  the  East  Jersey  Proprietors  to  a  Commit- 
tee of  the  Subscribers  to  a  Proposal  sent  to  the 
Governor. 

(From  Papers  of  Fertl.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library.  Vo 
P.  No.  K.  and  from  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey  Vol  5. 

Perthamboy  June  30th  1746. 
Gen1. 

The  Council  of  Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division 
of  New  Jersey,  having  this  day  had  a  Special  meeting 
to  Consider  Certain  proposals  Signed  by  you  as  a  Com- 
mittee for  the  Subscribers  to  a  Petition  of  many  per- 
sons said  to  be  Chiefly  Inhabiting  the  Northern  part 
24 


ADMINISTRATION  Of  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1?46 

of  this  Province  which  on  the  SS1.1'  of  April  Last  were 
by  a  message  from  the  General  assembly  Sent  up  to 
the  Late  Governour  of  this  Province,  have  Ordered 
me  to  Acquaint  you  concerning  the  said  Proposals 
That  as  the  Lands  at  Horseneck  were  Set  out,  Sur- 
veyed Patented  &  Legally  Divided  to  particular  pro- 
prietors as  part  of  their  Share  above  forty  years  agoe, 
They  the  Council  of  Proprietors  have  no  Concern  in 
any  particular  Controversie  concerning  those  Lands 
unless  that  Controversie  do  Equally  affect  all  the  other 
Lands  of  the  General  Proprietors,  But  as  the  pretence 
by  you  now  Started  that  a  Title  by  an  Indian  Deed  is 
good  against  the  Title  of  the  General  Proprietors  which 
was  first  vested  in  Sir  George  Carteret  the  first  Pro- 
prietor of  East  New  Jersey;  The -Council  of  Propri- 
etors conceive  that  this  pretence  equally  affects  the 
title  of  the  General  Proprietors  assignees  of  S-  George 
Carteret  to  the  other  Lands  of  East  New  Jersey  under 
which  all  the  Freeholders  thereof  claim  &  by  virtue  of 
which  East  New  Jersey  has  been  possest  from  its  first 
Setlement  now  upwards  of  Eighty  years,  untill  you 
&  those  you  claim  to  represent  have  Lately  Started 
the  said  pretence  And  therefore  the  Council  of  Propri- 
tors  think  as  this  pretence  Affects  all  their  titles  that 
it  is  incumbent  on  them  to  be  at  the  charge  of  the 
Deffence  against  it  untill  it  has  received  a  Legal  Deter- 
mination. 

The  Council  of  Proprietors,  by  their  Publication  of 
March  25th  Last  (which  was  first  published  by  itself  & 
afterwards  in  all  the  three  New  York  News  Papers  in 
April  last)  thought  they  had  given  you  and  all  reason- 
able men  full  satisfaction  that  the  said  pretence  is 
vain  Idle  and  groundless,  But  by  the  said  Petitions  & 
your  said  Proposals  it  seems  it  has  not  proved  Satis- 
factory to  you,  and  that  you  Still  pretend  your  aim  is 
&  was  to  have  a  Legal  determination  of  your  claim  by 
the  head  &  Fountain  of  Justice,  if  this  was  really  So 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         355 

it  Seemeth  very  unaccountable  that  you  Slighted  So 
mauy  opportunities  as  are  Setforth  in  the  said  Publi- 
cation of  bringing  your  claim  to  that  Test,  The  Coun- 
cil of  Proprietors  being  well  assured  that  no  Less  than 
fifteen  Actions  of  Ejectment  were  brought  at  Sundry 
times  by  Mess"  Alexander  and  Morris  ag-  the  Tenants 
of  the  Lands  at  Horseneck,  one  of  which  was  against 
ffrancis  Speire  which  you  name,  and  every  or  any  of 
which  Actions  you  might  have  Defended,  and  brought 
them  or  any  of  them  by  Appeal  before  the  King  & 
Council  if  you  So  had  thought  proper,  but  you  Em- 
braced none  of  those  15  opportunities  on  the  contrary 
you  sufferred  Judgment  to  go  in  every  of  them  by 
default,  you  neglected  the  Advice  of  Mr  Ogden,  to  file 
your  bill  in  Equity  for  Stay  of  proceedings,  on  those 
Judgments,  you  neglected  applying  directly  to  his 
Majesty  as  you  said  your  dessign  was,  &  you  slighted 
M'  Ogdens  Offer  of  Lending  you  Sufficient  money  for 
that  purpose,  and  you  neglected  all  other  the  fair  offers, 
made  to  you  as  by  the  said  Publication  at  Large  ap- 
pears However  Seeing  by  your  said  Proposals  you  now 
offer  to  accept  of  Mr  Ogdens  last  proposition  of  a  Tryal 
at  Law  in  this  Province  in  order  to  carry  the  matters 
in  dispute  to  England  by  an  Appeal  &?  &  Declare  that 
you  shall  gladly  Embrace  the  opportunity  to  Join 
Issue,  and  you  desire  the  Action  may  be  commenced 
and  brought  against  ffrancis  Speire  of  horseneck,  and 
tho  W-  Ogden  has  no  concern  or  interest  in  that  Affair 
now  &  many  other  reasons  are  obvious  why  offers 
then  made  are  by  your  Conduct  since  &  that  of  those 
you  Claim  to  represent  become  no  way  now  Obligatory 
yet  I  am  ordered  by  the  Council  of  Proprietors  to  ac- 
quaint you  That  as  the  Lands  for  which  you  propose 
an  Ejectment  to  be  brought  are  part  of  what  have 
been  Surveyed  &  Patented  to  particular  proprietors 
above  forty  years  agoe  as  mentioned  before,  and  the 
Declaration  upon  which  Judgment  is  already  given  for 


356          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

the  Lands  in  the  possession  of  Francis  Spier  was  Said 
to  be  on  the  Demise  of  the  Assignees  or  Grantees  of 
the  Said  particular  proprietors  to  whom  the  said 
Lands  were  so  Surveyed  and  pattented,  The  Council  of 
Proprietors  think  it  would  not  be  so  proper  to  direct 
the  bringing  of  any  Ejectment  on  the  Demise  of  the  said 
particular  proprietors  or  their  assigns  But  in  order  that 
you  may  try  the  strength  of  your  Claim  by  Indian  pur- 
chase against  the  Title  of  the  General  Proprietors  they 
propose  if  you  approve  thereof  to  bring  another  Action 
of  Ejectment  on  the  Title  of  the  General  Proprietors 
for  the  Lands  in  the  possession  of  ffrancis  Speire  and 
as  this  is  no  way  dessigned  as  a  Compulsary  Suit  but 
as  one  requested  b>  you,  to  be  brought  for  the  purpose 
before  they  do  not  send  the  Declaration  to  be  served 
on  ffrancis  Speire  but  to  you  who  made  the  request 
that  you  may  Enter  ffrancis  Speire  or  any  other  per- 
son you  please  Defendant  and  you  have  herewith  a 
Declaration  for  that  purpose  which  is  made  on  the 
demise  of  Sir  George  Carteret  the  first  Proprietf  of 
East  New  Jersey,  &  which  also  save  the  great  Length 
&  Expeuce  of  Setting  forth  in  the  Special  Verdict  & 
other  proceedings  necessary  many  mean  Conveyances 
under  him  to  the  present  Proprietors,  of  which  you 
may  See  some  hundreds  pointed  to  on  record  by  the 
bill  filed  with  Mr  Bartow  Shown  to  Mr  Low  &  Mr  Con- 
dict  as  by  the  said  Publication  is  mentioned. 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  Acquaint  you  that  011  the  first 
day  of  the  next  Suprearn  Court  at  Perth  amboy  which 
is  the  Second  tuesday  of  August  next  Elisha  Parker 
Attorney  for  the  Proprietors  in  the  said  Action  will  be 
ready  to  Enter  into  &  Sign  the  General  Eule  for  join- 
ing Issue  in  the  said  Action  upon  your  Attorneys  mak- 
ing a  Defendant,  &  also  Entering  into  &  Signing  the 
General  Rule. 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  Acquaint  you  that  their  said 
Attorney  will  be  ready  to  give  Security  by  persons  of 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          357 

good  Estates  in  this  Province  to  such  persons  as  you 
shall  name  by  bond  in  Two  thousand  pounds  or  any 
greater  Sum  to  prosecute  the  said  Suit  to  Effect  &  to 
pay  the  Costs  in  case  the  Plaintiff  in  this  first  Action 
shall  be  cast,  discontinue  or  withdraw  the  Action,  & 
to  prosecute  Appeals  here  and  to  England  to  Effect  in 
case  the  Plaintiff  in  this  first  Action  is  Cast  &  to  pay 
the  costs  on  the  Appeals  in  case  the  Same  Plaintiff  be 
thereon  Cast,  upon  your  giving  like  Security  to  persons 
by  the  Proprietors  Attorney  to  be  named  to  pay  the 
Costs  in  Case  the  Deffendant  in  this  first  Action  be 
cast.  &  to  prosecute  Appeals  here  &  to  England  to 
Effect  in  Case  the  same  Defend'  be  cast  &  to  pay  the 
cost  on  the  Appeals  in  Case  the  same  Defend'  be  there- 
on Cast, — I  am  Ordered  also  to  acquaint  you  that  for 
the  greater  dispatch  the  said  Attorney  of  the  Proprie- 
tors will  have  their  part  of  a  Special  Verdict  ready 
drawn  by  the  said  Second  Tuesday  of  August  when  its 
desired  that  the  Defendant's  Attorney  have  the  part 
of  the  Defendant  ready  drawn  that  they  may  be  re- 
duced into  one  Special  Verdict,  which  Shall  Conclude 
on  Such  particular  Single  points  on  the  Titles  of  the 
Plaintiff  or  Defend"  as  will  bring  or  Leave  the  true  & 
real  Merritts  of  all  the  material  points  in  Controversie 
between  the  General  Proprietors  and  you  to  be  finally 
Determined  by  his  Majesty  in  Council  without  regard- 
ing any  material  Circumstances  or  want  of  proper 
form  that  do  not  immediately  relate  to  the  principal 
points  in  dispute  which  Special  Verdict  being  agreed 
on  &  Signed  by  the  Attorneys  of  both  sides  may  be 
found  by  Consent  by  a  Jury  of  the  people  happening 
to  be  at  Court  or  otherways  as  may  be  agreed  on  by 
the  s?  Attorneys  for  the  Speedyer  dispatch.  And 
as  the  Council  of  Proprietors  as  well  as  you  are  re- 
solved to  have  the  Affair  carried  home  in  order  to  be 
finally  Determined  by  His  Majesty  in  Council  which 
way  soever  the  Judgments  are  given  by  the  Supream 


358          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

Court  &  by  the  Commander  in  Chief  &  Council  of  this 
Province,  and  as  you  seem  willing  &  desirous  to  have 
the  final  Determination  thereof  By  his  Majesty  & 
Council  as  Speedily  as  possible — The  Council  of  Pro- 
prietors desire  me  in  their  behalf  to  propose  to  you, 
that  the  matter  be  argued  in  the  Term  of  August  next 
in  the  Supream  Court  &  that  Judgment  be  then  prayd 
for  &  whatever  way  Judgment  goes  that  a  Writt  of 
Error  be  imediately  procured  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief  &  Council  upon  which  both  sides  shall  appear 
with  all  Speed  Gratis  &  argue  the  matter  there,  and 
that  Judgment  be  then  prayed  for.  and  whatever  way 
Judgment  goes  there  that  an  Appeal  be  made  to  the 
King  &  Council  pursuant  to  his  Majesty's  Royal  In- 
structions to  be  prosecuted  with  all  dispatch  on  both 
sides,  and  its  hoped  that  that  Appeal  may  be  sent 
home  by  the  first  Ships,  and  if  prosecuted  with  Effect 
its  hoped  that  it  may  in  a  few  months  be  Determined 
by  the  King  &  Council  to  prosecute  which  with  Effect 
nothing  shall  be  wanting  on  their  parts— 

I  am  also  Ordered  by  the  Council  of  Proprietors  to 
Acquaint  you  that  they  have  no  coerceive  power  over 
the  particular  proprietors  or  Owners  of  the  13,500  acres 
at  horseneck,  or  of  any  other  Lands  particularly  Laid 
out  Surveyed  or  patented,  whereby  to  prevent  Stop  or 
hinder  them  from  Issuing  any  Writts  or  Processess  or 
commencing  any  Actions  relating  to  Such  Lands — and 
therefore  it  would  be  Unreasonable  to  Expect  or  desire 
that  the  Council  of  Proprietors  Should  Enter  into  any 
Engagement  Agreement  or  promise  on  that  head— 
However  I  am  Ordered  to  acquaint  you  by  Mess"  Alex- 
ander &  Morris  the  present  Owners  of  the  said  13,500 
Acres  at  horseneck  that  they  Shall  be  ready  at  Perth 
amboy  on  the  said  Second  Tuesday  of  August  next  to 
give  Bond  with  Sufficient  Security  in  Sums  propor- 
tionable to  the  value  of  the  particular  Plantations  that 
jn  case  a.  Special  Verdict  Shall  be  agreed  upon 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OP  OOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          359 

found  in  the  said  Action  of  Ejectment  on  the  demise 
of  Sir  George  Carteret  against  the  Said  Francis  Speire 
or  any  other  person  by  you  named  &  Judgment  be 
given  in  the  Supream  Court  &  a  Writt  of  Error  be 
brought  before  the  Commander  In  Chief  &  Council  of 
this  Province,  and  after  Judgment  given  there  An  Ap- 
peal be  brought  thereon  Before  his  Majesty  in  Council 
in  Great  Britain  pursuant  to  the  proposals  hereby 
made  to  you  by  the  Council  of  Proprietors,  that  they 
said  Mess1".8  Alexander  &  Morris  will  not  prosecute  the 
Executions  of  their  said  fifteen  Judgments,   for  the 
term  of  three  years  or  untill  the  Said  Appeal  be  Deter- 
mined by  his  Majesty  &  Council  whichsoever  Shall 
first  happen,  which  Determination  they  conceive  may 
Easily  be  had  in  much  Less  time  than  three  years  if 
you  Shall  do  your  Endeavours  to  have  it  so.    but  if 
three  years  is  conceived  too  Short  a  time  they  have  no 
objection  to  any  Longer  reasonable  time  Provided  that 
you  or  the  possessors  of  the  Lands  recovered  by  the 
said  fifteen  Judgments  do  on  the  said  Second  tuesday 
in  August  give  them  Bonds  with  Sufficient  Securitys 
in  sums  proportionable  to  the  value  of  the  particular 
plantations  that  they  will  not  during  the  said  Stay  of 
Execution  Comitt  Waste  on  the  respective  Lands  they 
are  possest  of.   they  mean  by  Waste  that  they  Shajl 
Cutt  no  Timber  for  Sale  &  only  so  much  Timber  as 
Shall  be  necessary  for  the  Use  of  the  Plantations  re- 
spectively.    And  after  the  said  term  of  years  or  Deter- 
mination of  the  said  Appeal,  if  the  Defend1  Francis 
Speire  or  other  person  by  you  named  be  therein  Cast 
pay  the  said  Alexander  &  Morris  the  Damages  they 
have  suffered  or  Shall  Suffer  by  detaining  from  them 
the  possession  of  the  said  Lands  &  by  Waste  thereon 
committed  if  any  be  which  Uamages  are  to  be  Asscer- 
tained  by  Agreement  or  Arbitration  or  by  Tryals  by 
Jurys  in  proper  Actions  to  be  brought  for  them,  to 
which  Actions  the  Obligors  are  to  bind  themselves  that 


300          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

the  Defendents  Shall  Enter  Appearances  and  Consent 
that  the  Tryals  be  had  by  Juries  of  the  Western  Divi- 
sion of  New  Jersey. 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  Acquaint  you  that  as  to  the 
Remainder  of  the  Tenants  of  the  said  13,500  acres  the 
said  Alexander  &  Morris  will  then  be  ready  to  give 
them  Bonds  with  Sufficient  Security  that  during  the 
S?  time  or  the  Dependence  of  the  said  suit  as  aforesaid 
they  will  prosecute  no  writts  or  processes  against  them 
Provided  that  you  or  those  other  Tenants  do  then  give 
them  Bonds  with  Sufficient  Security  to  Committ  no 
waste,  &  to  pay  them  their  damages  as  aforesaid, 

I  am  also  Ordered  by  the  Council  of  Proprietors  to 
Acquaint  you  that  they  doubt  not  upon  any  of  the 
Petitioners  Application  to  any  other  particular  Pro- 
prietor to  whom  the  Lands  they  are  possest  of  have 
been  Legally  set  out  &  Divided,  &  giving  Bond  with 
Security  as  aforesaid,  Such  particular  propriet™  will  in 
like  manner  give  Bond  to  Stay  Writts  and  processes 
against  the  persons  So  giving  Security  during  the  time 
aforesaid. 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  Acquaint  you  that  its  the  full 
intention  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  to  Comply  with 
every  thing  in  their  power  thats  reasonable  in  your 
Said  Proposals  &  if  this  does  any  way  fall  Short  of 
that,  its  with  no  Design  to  do  so,  and  if  you  or  your 
Attorney  Shall  point  it  out,  or  any  thing  unreasonable 
or  Deficient  in  this  Proposal  or  that  any  of  the  times 
here  proposed  are  too  short,  it  shall  readily  be  reme- 
dyed  and  Supplyd  by  their  Attorney. 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  Acquaint  you  that  to  prevent 
mistakes  or  misrepresentations.  The  Council  of  Pro- 
prietors desire  that  all  Transactions  between  your  & 
their  Attorneys  &  persons  appearing  to  give  Security 
muttually  be  reduced  to  writing  and  that  nothing  Shall 
be  pretended  by  either  Side  to  have  been  said  done  or 
transacted  but  what  is  so  reduced  to  writting  &  copy 
of  it  Signed  Witnessed  &  Delivered  to  the  other  side 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          361 

before  the  parties  do  depart,  &  its  proposed  the  parties 
Shall  not  depart  till  all  Copies  of  that  kind  whereof 
Notice  is  to  be  given  them  be  delivered. 

I  am        Your  humble  Serv1 

LAUB  SMYTH  Clerk 
To  Nathaniel  Wheeler 

Sam!  Harrison 

Jonathan  Person 

John  Cunditt 

Nathanel  Camp 

Samuel  Baldwin 

Michel  Cooke 

[Oath  of  Elisha  Parker  followed  testifying  to  his 
having  served  copies  of  this  communication  upon  the 
parties  interested  17th  July  17-46.] 


Order  in  Council  upon  the,  Petition  of  Richard  Part- 
ridge, Agent  for  New  Jersey,  requesting  that  the 
King  should  authorize  the  Governor,  to  give  his 
consent  to  a  Bill  providing  for  the  emission  of 
£40,000  I'M  Bills  of  Credit. 

IProin  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F  TO.J 

At  the  Council  Chamber  Whitehall  the  71!1  of 
August  1740. 

Present 

The  Lords  of  His  Majestys  most  Honourable 
Privy  Council 

Upon  reading  this  day  at  the  Board  the  humble 
Petition  of  Richard  Partridge  Agent  for  the  Colony  of 
New  Jersey  in  America  Setting  forth  amongst  other 
things  that  the  said  Colony  is  greatly  distressed  for 
want  of  a  further  Supply  of  Bills  of  Credit  which  the 
late  .Governor  Moms  by  the  Royal  Instructions  was 
prohibited  from  Emitting  without  the  Royal  Licence, 


362          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

That  now  in  time  of  War  the  said  Colony  is  destitute 
of  a  sufficient  Supply  of  Arras  Ammunition  &c?  for 
their  Defence  against  the  Common  Enemy  and  cannot 
readily  raise  the  Money  for  purchasing  the  same  with- 
out a  further  Emission  of  Paper  Currency  as  well  as 
for  the  payment  of  divers  other  Publick  Emergencies 
for  support  of  the  said  Government,  That  it  would  be 
greatly  for  the  Service  of  His  Majesty  as  also  of  the 
said  Province  if  leave  were  granted  to  the  Governor  to 
give  his  Assent  to  the  passing  a  Bill  for  the  Emitting 
the  Sum  of  Forty  thousand  pounds  in  Publick  Bills  of 
Credit  on  Condition  that  the  Value  of  the  Bills  to  be 
Emitted  be  agreeable  to  An  Act  of  Parliament  made  in 
the  Sixth  Year  of  the  Eeign  of  the  late  Queen  Anne  for 
ascertaining  the  Eates  of  Foreign  Coins  in  her  Majes- 
tys  Plantations  in  America  The  Petitioner  therefore 
prays  that  his  Majesty  would  be  graciously  pleased  to 
grant  an  Order  of  leave  to  the  said  Governor  or  Com- 
mander in  Chief  for  the  time  being  to  give  his  Assent 
to  the  passing  An  Act  for  Emitting  the  said  Sum  of 
Forty  thousand  pounds  in  Paper  Bills  of  Credit — It  is 
Ordered  in  Council  that  the  said  Petition  (a  Copy 
whereof  is  hereunto  annexed)  Be  and  it  is  hereby  re- 
ferred to  the  Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and 
Plantations  to  consider  the  same  and  Report  their 
Opinion  thereupon  to  His  Majesty  at  this  Board.— 

W.  SHARPE. 


To  GEORGE  THE  SECOND  KING  OF  GREAT  BRIT- 
AIN &CA  in  Council. 

The   Humble  Petition   of    Richard    Partridge 
Agent  for  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey  in 
America. 
Sheweth 

That  the  said  Colony  of  New  Jersey  contains  a  con- 
siderable Body  of  People  who  depend  very  much  on 
Trade  and  Commerce  and  are  industriously  engaged  in 


1746]     ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.          363 

clearing  their  Lands  of  the  Woods  and  in  making  and 
Settling  New  Plantations,  have  consequently  an  abso- 
lute occasion  for  a  Medium  of  Trade  to  carry  on  their 
Affairs  without  which  they  cannot  comfortably  sub- 
sist, and  but  very  little  Silver  is  passing  amongst  them 
which  in  those  American  Plantations  is  constantly 
bought  up  as  Merchandize  and  Shipt  home  to  Great 
Britain  in  Returns  for  goods  and  British  Manufactures 
imported  there  and  therefore  Their  Legislature  have 
formerly  issued  certain  Quantitys  of  Paper  Bills  of 
Credit  to  Answer  the  end  of  Money  to  be  called  in  and 
Destroyed  at  certain  limited  Periods  of  time  on  a  very 
good  and  sufficient  Fund  as  a  Security  for  it— 

That  now  the  said  Periods  of  Time  are  almost  all  ex- 
pired and  the  rest  near  expiring  as  fixed  by  the  said 
last  Act  for  that  purpose  passed  the  l&*  August  1733 
for  Sixteen  Years. 

That  the  said  Colony  is  greatly  distressed  for  want 
of  a  further  Supply  of  Bills  of  Credit  which  the  late 
Governor  Morris  by  the  Royal  Instructions  was  pro- 
hibited from  suffering  to  be  Emitted  without  the  Royal 
Licence. 

That  now  in  time  of  War  the  said  Colony  are  desti- 
tute of  a  sufficient  Supply  of  Arms  Ammunition  &c? 
for  their  Defence  against  the  Common  Enemy  and 
cannot  readily  raise  the  Money  for  purchasing  the 
same  without  a  further  Emission  of  Paper  Currency 
as  well  as  for  the  payment  of  diverse  other  Publick 
Emergencies  for  Support  of  the  said  Government  and 
more  particularly  for  the  raising  of  Men  now  required 
on  the  present  intended  Expedition  in  America. 

That  in  asmuch  as  the  King  has  been  pleased  to 
appoint  Jonathan  Belcher  fisq'  Governor  of  the  said 
Province  in  the  room  of  Lewis  Morris  Esq-  deceased 
and  his  Commission  and  Instructions  for  the  Govern- 
ment (are  as  the  Petitioner  is  informed)  now  making 
out,  it  would  be  greatly  to  the  Service  of  the  King  as 


364          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.     [1746 

also  to  the  said  Province  if  an  Instruction  of  leave 
were  added  to  the  said  Governor  Belchers  Instructions 
That  he  might  for  the  present  Emergencys  of  the  said 
Province  give  his  Assent  to  the  passing  a  Bill  for  the 
Sum  of  Forty  thousand  pounds  in  Publick  Bills  of 
Credit,  on  Condition  that  the  Value  of  the  Bills  to  be 
Emitted  be  agreable  to  an  Act  of  Parliament  made  in 
the  Sixth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  the  late  Queen  Anne 
for  ascertaining  the  Rates  of  Foreign  Coins  in  Her  Maj- 
estys  Plantations  in  America  and  for  preventing  any 
after  loss  or  Discount  on  the  Bills  issued  by  such  An 
Act,  it  is  proposed 

That  the  Treasurer  of  the  said  Province  for  the  time 
being  shall  be  obliged  to  give  Gold  or  Silver  in  Exchange 
for  the  said  Bills  agreable  to  the  Rates  expressed  in 
them,  and  for  the  want  of  Silver  or  Gold  in  the  Treas- 
ury, the  Treasurer  to  pay  to  the  possessors  of  the  said 
Bills  such  difference  as  may  have  happened  in  the 
Price  of  Silver  or  Gold  from  the  time  of  passing  of  the 
said  Act  to  such  time  or  times  as  any  of  the  Possessors 
of  the  said  Bills  shall  please  to  demand  the  same  or 
otherwise  that  the  said  Governor  do  give  his  Assent 
for  passing  a  Bill  for  Emitting  the  said  Sum  of  Forty 
Thousand  Pounds  in  Bills  of  Credit  to  some  other  Bill 
of  the  like  Kind  or  import  if  he  shall  judge  it  neces- 
sary for  the  Publick  Service. 

That  the  Royal  Licence  hath  been  lately  obtained  for 
the  Kings  Governors  of  the  Provinces  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  and  New  Hampshire  for  Emitting  large 
Sums  in  Paper  Bills  of  Credit  without  their  making 
such  substantial  Provisions  for  ascertaining  the  value 
of  their  Bills  to  be  emitted  as  is  proposed  to  be  done  by 
this  Act. 

That  the  Petitioner  would  humbly  hope  for  the 
Royal  Favour  herein  the  rather  for  that  the  said  Col- 
ony have  actually  generously  raised  and  granted  a 
Supply  of  Provisions  lately  to  the  Value  of  Two  thou- 


1746]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.         365 

sand  Pounds  for  Cape  Breton  and  which  has  been  ar- 
rived there  towards  the  Support  of  the  Garrison  on 
that  Island  without  ever  making  any  Demand  for  re- 
payment of  the  same. 

For  these  reasons  therefore  the  Petitioner  in  behalf 
of  the  said  Colony  most  humbly  prays  that  the  King 
would  be  graciously  pleased  to  grant  an  Order  of  leave 
to  his  said  Governor  or  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  for 
the  time  being  for  giving  his  Assent  to  the  passing  An 
Act  for  Emitting  the  said  Sum  of  Forty  Thousand 
pounds  in  Paper  Bills  of  Credit  as  aforesaid 
All  which  is  humblv  submitted 


Notice  of  Nathaniel  Wheeler  and  others  to  the  Pro- 
prietors of  East  Jersey— stating  their  willingness 
to  appear  in  Court.  c£c.,  to  test  their  rights. 

I  From  Copy  In  Alexander  Papers, Vol.  I,  No.  8,  and  from  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey 

Volume  V.  | 

New  York  August  II*!1 

We  find  in  what  is  Set  forth  by  order  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  Proprietors  So  Called  of  June  30'?'  Last  Past, 
That  theay  purpose  to  Stand  in  Defence  of  their  Right 
to  the  Lands  in  Controversie  as  Assigns  of  S'  George 
Carteret  Against  what  theay  Please  to  Call  a  Vain  Idle 
and  Groundless  Pretence  of  Title  by  an  Indian  Deed 
&c  Theay  Say  theay  Considered  the  Proposals  signed 
by  us  as  a  Committee  &c  the  Purport  of  which  was 
our  Complyance  with  that  Perticular  Offer  a  proposal 
said  to  have  been  Sent  Us  by  M-  Ogden,  Namely  this, 
To  have  a  Tryal  att  Law  in  this  Province  in  Order  to 
Carry  the  Matters  in  Dispute  to  England  by  an  Appeal 


366          ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  LEWIS  MORRIS.      [1746 

from  a  Court  of  Law,  This  we  Cloased  with  in  Consid- 
eration all  processes  Might  Ceas  Untill  the  Matter 
Might  be  Accomodated,  and  whereas  it  is  Pretended 
we  Slighted  offers  and  opportunities  of  and  for  having 
a  Legal  Determination  of  our  Cause  by  the  head  and 
fountain  of  Justice  and  bringing  our  Claims  to  that 
Test  &  as  it  is  Set  forth  in  the  Publication  of  March 
25th  And  in  this  Last,  Thrown  at  us,  Where  Menshon 
is  Made  of  15  Actions  of  Ejectm'  and  Appeal  from 
them  or  Any  of  them,  Did  we  Not  Repeatedly  offer  if 
Theay  Would  take  1 :  2  or  3  Act-  &c  we  would  Gladly 
have  the  Opportunity  of  Answering  in  the  Paw,  in 
Case  Appeal  Might  be  had  if  Ocation  offer'd,  the  which 
was  Rejected  by  our  Opponants  We  are  Not  Concerned 
to  Dispute,  the  Title  of  the  Assigns  of  Sr  George  Car- 
teret  Unto  all  the  Lands  of  or  in  East  New  Jersey  So 
Called,  Nor  Any  other  in  the  Province  Saving  Such, 
as  we  have  Concern  in,  and  for,  Not  Knowing  what 
Purchases  theay  or  Some  of  them  May  have  Made  of 
Lands  in  Other  Places.  But.  we  Suppose  the  Dispute 
Depending  is  whether  the  Natives  or  Indians  had  a 
Legal  Right  or  Not.  This  is  one  Thing  we  Eye  as  a 
foundation  which  if  overthrown  The  Super  Structer 
Canot  Stand  Agreeable  to  that  old  Unalterable  Posi- 
tion, Nil  dat  quod  noti  habet,  But  as  we  are  no  Law- 
yers and  Consequently  under  Greatest  Disadvantages 
In  our  Own  Persons  to  Meet  our  Learned  Opponents 
in  a  Court  of  Law,  according  to  the  Rules  and  Meath- 
ords  there  prescribed  and  Prosecuted,  And  as  we  hear 
and  Believe,  having  Sent  two  of  Our  Number  forth  in 
quest  of  an  Attorney  to  Ingage  and  Act  for  Us  in 
Concert  with  their  Last  Publication,  if  it  Might 
Thought  proper,  without  Success,  all  the  several  At- 
torneys or  Practitioners  in  the  Law  of  Note  both  in 
this  and  the  two  Neighbouring  Provinces  are  Ingaged 
by  Interest  or  fee,  on  our  Opponants  Side,  which  has 
Rendred  the  process,  proposed  on  Such  a  Suddain,  on 


17415]       ADMINISTRATION    OP    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  36? 

our  Side  Impracticable,  However  in  Nothing  Receed- 
iiig  from  what  we  have  offered  and  complyed  with,  or 
what  our  Opponents  have  Published,  Consonant  there- 
unto We  Resolve,  God  Willing  to  make  Ready  against 
the  next  Term,  if  they  will  Please  to  Release  An  At- 
torney, there  Being  one  by  fee  Ingaged  who  if  Set  at 
Liberty  we  trust  would  Undertake  on  our  Side  and 
Part,  or  if  Any  Such  be  to  be  had,  otherways  we  shall 
Comitt  our  Cause  to  Such  as  we  can  find  to  Speak 
thereunto,  In  answer  to  our  opponents  if  it  may  be 
Permitted,  I"1  Mean  time  as  we  Regrett  the  work 
Mentioned,  By  Cuting  of  Timber  &c  as  Much  as  them- 
selves, So  we  shall  Endeavour  to  Stop  all  Such  Pro- 
ceedings, And  Rest  their  Humble  SerV 
Transcribed  by  Order  of  the  Committee  &c 
SAM.L  HARRISON  NATH?  WHEELER 

NATH.L  CAMP  JONATHAN  PEIRSON 

MIKEL  COOK  JOHN  CONDIT 

MICHAEL  VREELAND  SAM?-  BALDWIN 

JOHN  Low. 


Minutes  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey,  June  4th,  18//J, 
and  IMh,  1746. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  In  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  P,  No.  15.] 

At  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  Jersey  the  4th  Day  of  June, 
1746.- 

PRESENT 

The  HonWe  John  Hamilton  Esqr  President 
James  Alexander         j  Edward  Antill  i 
Robert  Hunter  Morris  j  James  Hude     j  ^^" 

The  President  Informed  the  Board  of  the  Death  of 
his  Late  Excellency  Lewis  Morris  Esq'  Late  Governor 


368  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

of  this  Province1  and  that  he  had  the  Seals,  the  In- 
structions and  other  Papers  Relating  to  the  Public 
Affairs  of  this  Province. 

Then  the  President  Took  the  Oaths  appointed  by 
Law  the  Oath  for  well  &  truely  Executeing  the 
Office  of  President  of  His  Majesty's  Council  &  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  this  Province,  the  Oath  for  the  due 
Observation  of  the  Laws  of  'Trade  &  Plantations  And 
also  the  Oath  for  duely  Executing  the  Office  of  Chan- 
cellor &  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal  of  this  Province. 

It  is  the  Opinion  and  Advice  of  this  Board  that  the 
President  do  Issue  a  Proclamation  for  Continueing  all 
Officers  Civil  and  Military  in  the  Exercise  of  their  Re- 
spective Offices  and  Places  till  further  Orders.  Ordered 
that  the  Clerk  Prepare  a  Proclamation  accordingly 

The  President  Communicated  to  the  Board  a  Letter 
from  the  Duke  of  New  Castle  His  Majesty's  Principal 
Secretary  of  State  to  his  Late  Excellency  bearing  date 
at  Whitehall  April  9th,  1746,  Signifying  his  Majesty's 
Pleasure  that  this  Colony  should  Raise  a  Number  of 
Men  to  be  Employed  in  His  Majesty's  Service  in 
America.  Also  a  Letter  from  His  Excellency  Govern- 
our  Shirley  to  his  S'1  Late  Excellency  bearing  date  at 
Boston,  May  27th,  1 746  and  also  a  Letter  to  the  Presi- 
dent from  His  Excellency  Governour  Clinton  bearing 
Date  at  New  York  May  31  st,  1746,  upon  the  Subject  of 
the  intended  Expedition 

Upon  which  the  President  desired  the  Advice  of  this 
Board.  The  Board  takeing  the  Same  into  Considera- 
tion are  Unanimously  of  Opinion  that  it  will  be  neces- 
sary the  President  should  Meet  the  General  Assembly 
as  soon  as  Possible,  and  as  the  President  is  unable  to 
Travel  from  Home,  the  Board  Advises  that  the  Gen- 


1  GOVERNOR  MORRIS  died  May  21st,  1746,  at  Trenton,  after  an  illness  of  some  weeks. 
His  remains  left  Trenton  on  the  26th  on  their  way  to  Morrisania,  N.  Y.,  where  they 
were  deposited  in  the  family  vault.  The  pall-bearers  were  Andrew  Johnston, 
James  Hude,  Peter  Kemble,  Thomas  Leonard,  Philip  French,  Daniel  Coxe,  Philip 
Kearney  and  Charles  Read.  The  funeral  services  were  performed  on  the  27th.— ED. 


174C]       ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  369 

eral  Assembly  now  Sitting  at  Trenton  be  Prorogued  to 
Wednesday  next  then  to  Meet  at  this  Place  And  that 
Expresses  be  Sent  to  the  Members  to  Require  their  At- 
tendance accordingly,  and  His  Honour  was  Pleased 
to  Issue  a  Prorogation  for  tliat  Purpose 

And  the  Board  do  farther  Advise  that  his  Honour 
the  President  Issue  a  Proclamation  for  Laying  an  Em- 
bargo on  all  Vessels  in  this  Province  for  the  Space  of 
one  Month  unless  his  Order  in  Council  shall  be  first 
Obtained  for  the  Sailing  of  any  Vessel. 

Ordered  that  a  Proclamation  be  Prepared  accord- 
ingly. *  *  *  * 


At  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy  June  18 

1746. 

PRESENT 
The  Honbl?  John  Hamilton  Esq!"  President 

John  Reading       "I  Eichard  Smith 
James  Alexander    >-  Robert  Hunter  Morris 
John  Rodman       J  James  Hude 

The  President  Communicated  a  Letter  to  the  Coun- 
cil from  Govr  Clinton  dated  June  1  ('»'!'  Ins*  Informing 
him  with  his  Intention  of  Going  to  Albany  in  Order  to 
Engage  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians  to  take  Part  in  the 
present  Expedition  agreeable  to  His  Majestys  Orders  to 
him  for  that  Purpose  &  Desiring  the  President  to  En- 
deavour to  Send  all  the  fighting  Indians  to  Albany  to 
Join  the  Six  Nations  on  this  Occasion,  On  which  he 
Desired  the  Advice  of  this  Board. 

The  Board  Unanimously  Advised  his  Honour  to  Lay 
before  the  House  of  Assembly  such  Parts  of  Governor 
Clinton's  Letter  as  Related  to  the  Engageing  the  In- 
dians to  Take  Part  in  this  Expedition. 
85 


370  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

[Under  date  of  Aug.  30th  President  Hamilton  laid 
before  the  Board  a  letter  from  Gov.  Clinton,  inform- 
ing him  that  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians,  had  declared 
war  against  the  French,  and  had  engaged  to  send  all 
their  fighting  men  on  the  contemplated  expedition 
against  Canada.] 


At  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy  June  19th, 

1746. 

PRESENT 
The  Honble  John  Hamilton  Esqf  President. 

John  Reading          I  Richard  Smith       j 
James  Alexander    I  Robert  H  Morris 
John  Rodman          i  James  Hude 


'        T  TT        J  ^ 


His  Honour  the  President  Laid  before  this  Board  a 
Message  he  Receiv'd  from  the  Assembly  in  the  follow- 
ing Words.— 

Ordered  that  Mr  Cooper  &  Mr  Fisher  do  Wait  on  his 
Honour  and  Acquaint  him  that  the  House  has  Gott 
the  Business  in  a  good  forwardness  which  was  Recom- 
mended in  his  Speech  and  as  he  was  Pleased  to  Inti- 
mate that  he  would  Inform  the  House  by  Messages  of 
any  other  Affairs  he  had  to  Recommend  to  them, 
they  now  desire  his  Honour  will  be  Pleased  to  Recom 
mend  what  other  Business  he  thinks  necessary  to  be 
done  at  this  Time  that  the  House  may  Proceed  the  rein 
as  They  shall  have  ^eisure.  Their  private  affairs  Re- 
quiring that  They  should  make  the  utmost  Despatch. 

Upon  which  he  was  Pleased  to  Ask  the  Opinion  and 
Advice  of  the  Board  which  was  proper  to  be  done,  And 
the  Board  taking  into  their  Consideration  the  many 
Things  necessary  to  be  done  at  this  Time  in  order  to  Pre 
pare  for  the  intended  Expedition  against  Canada  and 


174GJ       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.  371 

the  Dangerous  Consequences  that  might  Attend  any  the 
Least  Delay,  were  Unanimously  of  Opinion  that  no 
other  Business  ought  to  be  Entred  upon  till  the  Legis- 
lature had  Gone  through  the  Business  his  Honour  had 
Recommended  to  Them,  at  the  Opening  of  the  Sessions 
Relateing  to  the  intended  Expedition.  And  when  that 
was  over  His  Honour  might  Grant  Them  a  short  Re- 
cess till  after  Harvest  and  Advised  his  Honour  to  Send 
a  Message  to  that  Purpose  to  the  House  of  Assembly 


Minutes  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey,  Augiust  13M, 

1746. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library, 
Volume  I.  No.  16.] 

At  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy,  August 
13th,  1746. 

PRESENT 
The  Honble  John  Hamilton  Esqf  President 

James  Alexander  Robert  Hunter  ( ^  ,  „ 

Morris          Edward  Antill  \ 

His  Honour  the  President  Acquainted  this  Board 
that  he  had  Desired  their  Meeting  to  Inform  them  that 
Edward  Hart  had  by  his  Wan-ant  Raised  one  hundred 
Men  for  the  Expedition  against  Canada  and  had 
brought  Them  to  this  Place  on  Thursday  Last,  That 
as  the  500  Men  which  the  Assembly  had  Agreed  to 
Provide  for  were  before  Raised  And  that  he  was  at  a 
Loss*  what  to  Resolve  Concerning  the  si  Company  so 
Raised  by  Edward  Hart  &  Desired  the  Advice  of  this 
Board  thereon,  Whereupon  this  Board  haveing  ma- 
turely Considered  of  the  Matter  Advised  his  Honour 
the  President  to  send  the  si  Edward  Hart  to  His  Ex- 


372  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [3746 

cellency  the  Governour  of  New  York  at  Albany  with 
a  Letter  to  the  Purpose  following  Viz* 

[The  letter  gives  the  facts  of  the  case — that  the 
whole  number  of  500  authorized  by  the  Assembly  had 
been  raised — that  the  100  men  raised  by  the  bearer 
Edward  Hart  were  by  far  the  most  likely  and  able- 
bodied  Men  that  had  been  raised — but  that  there  was 
no  probability  that  the  Assembly  of  the  Province 
would  consent  to  provide  for  them — it  was  thought  ad- 
visable to  send  him  to  Albany  to  offer  them  to  the 
Governour  of  New  York.  It  was  hoped  they  would 
be  accepted,  and  the  bounty  of  six  pounds  pr  man 
authorized  by  the  Assembly  of  New  York  be  paid  to 
them.  The  letter  closes  as  follows:  "As  the  Bearer  had 
Expended  most  of  his  Estate  in  the  Raising  and  Sub- 
sisting these  Men,  till  he  brought  them  hither  &  then 
Declared  his  Inability  Longer  to  Subsist  Them.  I  have 
Adventured  for  the  Publick  Service  to  Order  some  of 
the  money  Advanced  by  this  Province  for  his  Majesty 
for  Supplying,  Cloathing  &  Arms  &c  to  be  Applyed 
for  the  Subsistence  of  the  Men  &  shall  do  so  for  ten 
days  or  a  fortnight  Longer  in  Order  to  keep  the  Men 
together  till  Hart's  Eeturn  from  your  Excellency  which 
I  hope  may  be  Allowed  of  by  His  Majesty  or  General 
S'Clair,  along  with  the  Money  Advanced  for  Cloath- 
ing &  Arms,  And  doubt  not  your  Excellency  will  Join 
in  Recommending  the  Allowance  of  that  Sum,  as  his 
Majesty's  service  is  the  only  Motive  for  that  Expence."] 

'The  President  Communicated  a  Letter  from  some  of 
the  Gentlemen  of  the  Council  of  New  York  to  whose 
Care  and  Direction  His  Excellency  Gov.r  Clinton  had 
Recommended  the  Peace  and  safety  of  the  City  and 


1  The  minutes  from  this  point  to  the  *  on  a  subsequent  page  are  as  found  in  N.  Y. 
C'ol.  MSS.  Vol.  LXXV,  page  77. 


1740]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON'.  373 

Lower  Parts  of  the  Province  of  New  York  during 
his  stay  at  Albany  Requesting  His  Honour  that 
for  the  more  Speedy  Intelligence  &  Spreading  the 
Alarme  of  an  Invasion  there  might  be  Erected  a  Bea- 
con on  the  Highlands  of  Neversinks,  and  also  that  his 
Honour  would  Direct  the  Regiments  of  the  County's 
of  Essex  &  Bergen  to  Repair  to  the  Assistance  of  the 
City  of  New  York  in  Case  of  an  Alarm.  And  His  Ex- 
cellency the  Late  Governour  of  this  Province  having 
some  Time  before  his  Death  Issued  a  Proclamation 
Where  he  ordered  watches  to  be  stationed  in  Sev- 
eral Parts  of  the  County  of  Monmouth  along  the  Sea 
Coast.  And  the  Board  being  Informed  that  John  Little 
Esqr  Lieutenr  Colir  and  John  Redford  Esqr  Major  of 
the  Regiment  of  the  County  of  Monmouth  were  in 
Town  Requested  their  Attendance  and  Information 
how  far  the  Orders  in  the  said  Proclamation  Relating 
to  the  County  of  Monmouth  had  been  Com  ply  ed  with 
Who  Attending  accordingly  Informed  His  Honour  & 
the  Board  that  Pursuant  to  the  said  Proclamation  on 
the  2sth  &  30th  Days  of  April  Last  Watches  were  Sta- 
tioned at  Squan,  Deal  and  the  Highlands  of  Neversink 
all  upon  the  Sea  Coast,  and  that  these  Watches  have 
been  from  Time  to  Time  Relieved  and  are  at  present 
Supplyd  from  the  Regiment  of  Foot  of  County  of 
Monmouth,  that  the  Instructions  given  to  these 
Watches  are  to  give  Notice  to  the  next  Commanding 
officers  who  have  orders  upon  such  Notice  to  Call 
together  their  Companys  and  to  send  forward  the 
Alarme  to  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  County. 

Whereupon  this  Board  Advised  His  Honour  the 
President  to  Issue  his  Order  to  the  Collonel  of  the 
Militia  of  Monmouth  County  to  the  Purpose  follow- 
ing viz* 

Slr 

I  am  this  day  advis'd  by  His  Majesty's  Council  that 
it  will  be  for  the  Security  not  only  of  this  Province 


374  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.        [1746 

but  also  of  the  City  and  Province  of  New  York  that  a 
proper  Beacon  be  Sett  up  and  Erected  upon  the  most 
Convenient  Part  of  the  Highlands  of  Neversinks  in 
Order  to  Give  the  Erlyest  Alarm  of  the  Approach  of 
an  Enemy,  And  Do  therefore  in  Pursuance  of  the  sd 
Advice  Order  that  a  proper  Beacon  be  Erected  upon 
the  Said  Highlands  of  Neversinks  in  such  Place  &  in 
such  manner  as  You  shall  think  most  proper.  And  I 
Do  hereby  further  Order  and  Direct  that  You  Give  or 
Cause  to  be  Given  Orders  to  the  Severall  Persons  who 
shall  be  appointed  to  Keep  Watch  near  the  said  Beacon 
when  Erected  that  They  do  not  Presume  to  Sett  fire  to 
the  said  Beacon  or  Suffer  any  Person  to  Sett  Fire  to  it 
without  Your  Order  or  the  Order  of  oiie  of  the  Field 
Officers  of  the  Eegiment  under  Your  Command  or  the 
order  of  Richard  Saltar,  Nathaniel  Leonard  or  Robert 
Hartshojne  or  of  any  one  of  you  or  them,  but  upon 
the  approach  of  Six  Ships  or  more,  the  Person  then  on 
the  Watch  is  immediately  to  apply  to  some  one  of  the 
Persons  above  mentioned,  who  upon  such  application 
is  Requested  to  Proceed  to  the  said  Beacon  and  If  he 
Judges,  the  sd  Ships  to  be  Enemys  he  is  then  to  order 
the  said  Beacon  to  be  fired  and  is  to  send  Immediate 
Notice  to  You  or  to  one  of  the  Field  Officers  of  the  Regi- 
ment of  the  s'1  County  who  is  hereby  Required  upon 
Receipt  of  such  Intelligence  to  Send  Notice  thereof  to 
Me  or  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Province  for 
the  time  being — I  am,  &c. 

This  Board  further  Advis'd  his  Honor  the  President 
to  Give  Orders  to  the  Collonel  of  the  Regiments  of 
Bergen  &  Essex  to  the  following  Purpose  Vizi- 
s'' 

It  has  been  Represented  to  Me  by  the  Gentlemen  of 
His  Majesty's  Council  for  the  Province  of  New  York 
to  whose  Care  His  Excellency  the  Governour  of  that 
Province  has  Recommended  the  Safety  of  the  City  and 


1746J       ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  375 

Lower  Parts  of  the  Province  of  New  York  during  his 
Absence  at  Albany.  That  in  Case  of  an  Attack  upon 
the  City  of  New  York  they  would  stand  greatly  in 
need  of  assistance  from  this  Province  which  Repre- 
sentation being  laid  before  His  Majesty's  Council  for 
this  Province  they  Unanimously  Advis'd  me  to  Issue 
Orders  to  the  Regiments  of  Bergen  &  Essex  that  they 
should  in  case  of  Alarm  Proceed  to  the  Assistance  of 
our  Neighbours  of  New  York  I  Do  therefore  by  &  with 
the  Advice  of  His  Majesties  Council  Order  and  Require 
You  that  upon  Application  from  the  Govr  or  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  Province  of  New  York  for  the 
Time  being  or  uppon  Application  from  His  Majesties 
Councill  for  that  Province  You  do  forthwith  and  with- 
out further  Orders  Call  together  and  March  the  Regi- 
ments of  Foot  under  Your  Command  or  Order  such 
Detachments  as  shall  be  Judged  necessary  to  the  most 
Convenient  place  for  transporting  them  into  the  Pro- 
vince of  New  York  and  when  there  You  are  to  Obey 
such  Orders  as  shall  be  Given  You  by  the  Commander 
in  Chief  of  that  Province,  or  by  his  Majesties  Council 
of  that  Province,  untill  You  Returne  into  this  Govern- 
ment—I am  &c— 

This  Board  further  advis'd  His  Honour  that  he 
would  be  Pleased  to  write  to  the  Gentlemen  of  the 
Councill  of  New  York  who  wrote  to  him,  with  a  Copy 
of  the  Proceeding  Minutes.* 

Mr  Edward  Hart  Represented  to  his  Honour  the 
President  his  Inability  of  Longer  Supporting  the  Com- 
pany Raised  by  him  &  that  They  must  out  of  Neces- 
sity Disperse,  unless  His  Honour  will  be  Pleased  to 
Advance  a  Sum  of  money  for  their  Subsistence,  which 
being  Communicated  to  this  Board,  They  are  of  Opin- 
ion that  his  Honour  may  Draw 'an  Order  on  the  Com- 
missioners for  that  Purpose,  which  he  does  in  the 
Words  following 


376  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  6 

[The  Letter  follows,  ending  "I  do  therefore  in  Pur- 
suance of  the  sd  Advice  Order  that  You  Pay  to  the 
Commanding  Officer  of  s'1^  Company  for  the  Use  of  sd 
Company  the_Sum  of  Ten  Pounds  proclamation  Money 
&  to  the  s(1  Commanding  Officer  for  the  Subsistence  of 
the  s(I  Company  9s  per  Man  per  Day.  till  the  27l-b  Inst: 
inclusive  or  untill  the  sd  Edward  Hart's  Return  from 
Albany,  which  ever  shall  first  happen  And  for  so  Do- 
ing this  shall  be  your  Warrant,  Given  under  my  hand 
&  Seal  this  13^  day  of  August  1746. 

JOHN  HAMILTON."] 

-*  -::•  •::-  *  *  -x-  •;•:-  «  * 
The  Board  also  Advised  his  Honour  to  Issue  his 
Orders  to  the  Captains  of  the  Several  Company's 
Raised  in  this  Province  to  hold  themselves  &  their 
Company's  in  Readyness  to  March  to  the  Place  ap- 
pointed by  His  Honour  for  their  Embarkation  to  the 
Place  of  General  Rendezvous  Upon  the  first  Notice 
they  shall  Receive  from  His  Honour 


Proceedings  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey,  September 

,  1746. 


[From  Papers  of  Ferdinand  John  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library  . 
Book  P,  No.  15.  | 

PRESENT 

The  Honb.le  John  Hamilton  Esqf  President 
Kobert  Hunter  Morris  )  James  Hude 


Edward  Antill  f  John  Coxe 


Esq1? 


His  Honour  acquainted  the  Board  that  Agreeable  to 
the  Advice  of  the  Council  Given  on  the  22d.  of  August 
Last  for  bhe  immediate  Embarkation  of  the  Company 
Raised  in  this  Province,  He  had  Issued  Orders  to  the 


746]        ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  377 

Commissioners  appointed  for  Arming  &  Cloathing  the 
Troops  to  Supply  them  with  the  Several  Necessary s 
Provided  pursuant  to  Orders  he  had  formerly  Given 
And  also  to  the  Commissioners  Appointed  to  Victual 
&  Transport  the  Troops  to  Prepare  proper  Vessels  for 
that  Purpose  &  Ship  the  Provisions  Supplied  by  this 
Province  for  the  Use  of  the  Troops,  And  being  In- 
formed by  the  Several  Commissioners  that  the  Trans- 
ports, Provisions,  Arms,  Cloathmg,  Battows  &c  the 
Necessarys  were  ready.  He  gave  Orders  to  the  Several 
Captains  of  the  Companys  Raised  in  this  Province 
immediately  to  Embarke  with  the  Respective  Com- 
panys under  their  Command  &  Proceed  to  Albany  in 
the  Province  of  New  York  &  when  There,  to  obey 
such  Orders  as  they  should  Receive  from  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  that  Province  for  the  Time  being, 
and  a  Sett  of  Instructions  for  their  better  Government 
in  the  Embarkation  and  Transportation  of  their  Com- 
pany[s]  to  Albany— 

His  Honour  was  also  Pleased  to  Inform  the  Board 
that  agreeable  to  the  Orders  he  had  Given,  four  of  the 
five  Companys  Raised  in  this  Province  were  Embarked 
at  this  Place  on  the  21  of  this  Inst.  with  the  Arms,  Am- 
munition, Provisions,  Battows  &  other  Necessarys  & 
Sett  Sail  for  Albany  on  the  third  day  of  this  Inst.  And 
that  the  other  Company  was  Embarked  at  Newark  on 
the  30l.h  of  August  Last  with  the  Several  Necessarys 
and  Sett  Sail  on  the  1"  of  this  Inst.  for  Albany- 
He  also  Informed  the  Board  that  by  Letter  from  his 
Exellency  Govr  Clinton  Dated  the  19^  Inst.  He  had 
Received  Intelligence  that  the  Troops  at  Albany  were 
to  be  Joyn'd  by  2500.  Men  from  the  Governments  of 
Boston  and  Connecticut  &  were  then  to  Proceed  under 
the  Command  of  Gen!  Waldo  to  Crown  Point.  Upon 
which  he  Observ'd  to  the  Board  that  the  five  Com- 
panys Sent  from  this  Province  had  no  Field  Officer  to 
Command  Them  &  that  he  had  not  Receiv'd  any  Com- 


378  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.        [1746 

missions  from  his  Majesty  for  that  Purpose  &  Desired 
the  Advice  of  the  Board  what  to  Do  on  this  Occasion. 
Who  Takeing  the  same  into  their  Consideration  are 
Unanimously  of  Opinion  that  it  will  be  greatly  Preju- 
dicial to  his  Majesty's  Service  to  Suffer  the  Troops 
Raised  in  this  Province  to  Go  upon  Duty  without  some 
Field  Officer  or  Person  to  have  the  Chief  Command  of 
them  under  Gen?  Gooch  or  such  other  General  as  shall 
be  Appointed  to  Command,  And  therefore  Advised  his 
Honour  to  Issue  a  Commission  to  some  proper  Person 
by  Virtue  of  the  Powers  Devolved  on  him  by  His 
Majesty's  Commission  under  the  Great  Seal  of  Great 
Britain,  Appointing  such  Person  Colonel  of  the 
Forces  Eaised  in  this  Province  for  the  intended  Expe- 
dition and  Unanimously  Recommended  to  his  Honour 
Peter  Schuyler  Esq.r  a  Gentlem"  well  known  to  the 
Several  Members  of  this  Board,  of  good  Estate  &  Rep- 
utation &  very  proper  to  by  him  Commissionated  for 
that  Purpose. 

This  Board  being  Inform'd  that  one  of  the  Beacons 
Erected  on  the  Highlands  of  Neversink  by  the  Order 
of  his  Honour  the  President  agreable  to  their  Advice 
to  him  on  the  IB1!1  of  August  Last,  had  been  by  Acci- 
dent Lately  Sett  on  Fire  in  the  Night  Time  &  also  that 
no  Notice  had  been  Taken  of  it  by  the  Persons  Ap- 
pointed in  the  Government  of  New  York  to  Take  & 
Communicate  such  Alarm,  Whereupon  they  Unani- 
mously Advise  his  Honour  the  President  to  Inform 
the  Gent,  of  His  Majesty's  Council  of  that  Province  of 
the  Neglect  of  the  Watch  Stationed  There,  in  Order 
that  They  may  Take  such  Steps  as  will  Prevent  the 
Like  for  the  Future. 


1746J       ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  379 


fatter  from  President  John  Hamilton  to  the  Council 
of  New  York — relatiny  to  the  destruction  of  the 
Beacon  on  the  Highlands  of  Never  sink. 

[From  N.  Y.  Col.  MSB..  Vol.  LXXV,  page  91.J 

Perth  Amboy  September  27e.h  1746. 

Gentlemen  — 

I  think  it  ray  Duty  as  well  in  Regard  To  His  Majes- 
ty and  the  Trust  Reposed  in  me,  as  to  the  Security 
and  well  Being  of  the  Province  the  Lower  Part  of 
which  is  at  this  Time  more  Immediately  Committed 
to  Your  Care,  To  Acquaint  You  that  by  undoubted 
Information  I  am  Satisfied  that  the  Beacon  sometime 
ago  Erected  on  the  Highlands  of  Neversink  was  by 
pure  Accident  Sett  on  fire  not  long  Since  in  the  Night, 
at  a  Time  when  it  might  very  well  have  been  Discov- 
ered by  the  Persons  Appointed  in  your  Government 
to  Take  and  Communicate  such  an  Alarm  Noth with- 
standing which  no  Notice  was  Taken  of  it,  This  to  me 
makes  it  more  than  Probable  that  the  Watch  ap- 
pointed in  your  Government  on  this  Particular  Ser- 
vice have  been  too  Negligent  in  their  Duty  and  how- 
ever Lucky  it  may  be  thought  that  Your  Province 
has  Escaped  a  false  Alarm,  Yet  I  make  no  Doubt  but 
that  You  are  of  Opinion  with  Me  that  an  Alarm  from 
[any]  Quarter  when  Rightly  Given  must  be  of  the 
Utmost  Importance  and  therefore  hope  you  will  for 
Our  Mutual  Security  take  such  Steps  in  Regard  to  your 
Watcher,  as  will  Effectually  Prevent  the  Like  Neglect 
for  the  Future  I  am  Gentlemen 

Your  most  Obedient  Humble  Servant 

JOHH  HAMILTON. 

The  Honbl"  His  Majesty's  Council  of  New  York. 


380  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.        [1746 


Letter  from   Captain  Joseph  Espinosa  to   Governor 
Clinton  of  New  York. 

[From  N.  Y.  Col.  MSS..  Vol.  LXXV,  p,  104.] 

New  York  Novembf  ye  5th  1746 

sr 

Your  Excellency  will  pardon  Me  to  take  the  Liberty 
to  trouble  You  on  this  Day  Its  not  in  Regard  to  My- 
self Nor  My  Interest  but  Intirely  on  account  of  What 
May  happen  hereafter  to  the  prisoners  at  the  Havanah 
who  I  am  affraid  May  Suffer  on  Account  of  my  peo- 
ple being  treated  In  the  Manner  they  are  at  Amboyby 
being  Confined  Every  Night  In  Goale  Occasioned  by 
my  being  Carried  In  there  by  Cap1  Easom  who  Not 
regarding  Your  Excellencys  pasport  but  Told  me  he 
had  a  better  then  that  of  Your  Excellency  by  which 
means  he  Carried  me  to  Amboy  taking  Your  Excel- 
lencys Letters  &  whatever  papers  Letters  I  had  &  my 
wearing  Apparell  Excepting  what  I  had  on  till  after 
were  prevailed  on  to  give  Me  a  Little  Linnen,  I  know 
nothing  I  have  been  Guilty  of  In  taking  anything  on 
board  My  Vesselle  but  what  was  Publick  &  Submitt 
My  Selfe  to  the  Laws  of  the  Government  In  wch  I  was 
Taken  out  of  &  am  assured  Your  Excellency  will  when 
properly  Comes  before  You  Do  me  all  the  Justice  My 
Case  Requires  which  I  beg  May  be  Done  as  Soon  as 
Your  Lasure  will  permit  Considering  My  peoples 
Nakidness  &  the  heavy  Charge  I  am  at  not  only  In 
regard  to  them  but  the  prisoners  of  Warr  I  had  on 
board  that  are  now  upon  my  Expence  as  I  must  sup- 
pose without  am  Redrest  by  the  Laws  of  Your  Coun- 
try I  have  Severall  transactions  to  Relate  to  Your 
Excellency  wc.h  will  be  two  tedious  for  Your  Excel- 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION  OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  381 

lency  to  have  here  Incerted  till  Am  on  Oath  So  Shall 
Conclude  &  till  Your  Excellency  appoints  me  a  hear- 
ing &  am  with  the  Greatest  Respect  Your 
Excel"  Most  Obedient  &  Most 
Humble  Servt. 

JOSEPH  ESPINOSA. 


Petition  of  Joseph  Espinosa  to  Governor  Clinton,  and 
other  papers  connected  with  the  seizure  of  the 
sloop  St.  Miyel. 

[From  N.  Y.  Col.  MSB.,  Vol.  LXXV,  pages  107-110.] 

To  his  Excellency  The  honorable  George  Clinton 
Esqr  Captain  Generall  and  Governour  hi 
Cheif  in  and  over  the  province  of  New 
York  and  Territories  thereon  depending  in 
America  and  Vice  Admiral  of  the  Red 
Squadron  of  his  Majestys  ffleet. 

The  humble  Petition  of  Joseph  Espinosa  late 
Commander  of  the  Sloop  Sl  Migill  sent  to 
this  Province  as  a  flag  of  Truce  by  the 
Governour  of  Havannah  with  English 
Prisoners. 

Hheweth, 

That  your  Petitioner  being  fully  impowered  by  a 
Commission  from  the  Governour  of  Havannah  as  a 
flag  Truce  did  in  his  Said  Sloop  sometime  Since  sail 
from  thence  and  on  or  about  The  ninth  day  of  July 
last  arrived  in  This  Province  with  sixty- nine  English 
Prisoners  who  had  been  taken  by  the  Spaniards  and 
delivered  them  Safe  on  Shore  in  the  City  of  New  York, 


382  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

That  sometime  afterwards  and  on  or  before  The 
Eighteenth  day  of  October  last  Your  Petitioner  with 
Your  Excellencys  permission  did  take  on  board  his 
said  Sloop  Sixteen  Spanish  Prisoners  partly  in  Ex- 
change of  the  Said  English  prisoners,  And  Your  Excel- 
lency by  an  Instrument  under  Your  hand  and  Sealeat 
Arms  did  Vouchsafe  to  Grant  unto  Your  Petitioner  a 
Certificate  thereof  and  safe  pasport  to  your  Petitioner 
from  home  [hence?]  to  Havannah  and  thereby  desired 
that  all  Comanders  of  his  Majestys  Ships  of  Warr  and 
Privateers  should  Regulate  Themselves  Accordingly 
And  Your  Excellency  at  the  Same  Time  did  deliver  un- 
der your  Petitioner  on  his  Britannick  Majestys  Service 
one  Letter  from  Your  Excellency  and  two  letters  from 
the  Governour  of  Pensilvania  directed  to  the  Governour 
of  Havannah 

That  your  Petitioner  on  The  Next  day  to  witt  the 
Nineteenth  day  of  October  last  having  on  board  the 
passport  letters  and  Spanish  prisoners  aforesaid  think- 
ing himself  Safe  under  the  Protection  of  your  Excel- 
lencys said  passport  sailed  from  the  Port  of  the  City 
of  New  York  in  his  said  Sloop  towards  the  Narrows 
on  his  Returne  to  Havannah  That  about  midway 
between  Nutten  Island  Point  and  the  Narrows  which 
(as  Your  Petitioner  is  informed)  is  within  the  bounds 
and  Jurisdiction  of  this  Your  Excellencys  Government 
of  the  Province  of  New  York  and  is  with  in  Sight  of 
the  Fort  of  New  York  about  one  of  the  Clock  in  The 
Afternoon  he  was  attacked,  fired  at  and  taken  by  one 
John  Easom  with  about  eleven  or  twelve  men  on 
board  of  a  Small  two  Mast  boat  That  imediately  after 
The  said  men  came  on  board  Yr  Petitioners  Sloop  he 
Produced  and  Shewed  Your  Excellencys  said  Passport 
to  the  person  who  y'  Petitioner  was  told  was  Captaine 
but  he  taking  no  notice  Thereof  ordered  Your  peti- 
tioners people  into  the  hold  of  the  Vessell  and  put 
three  Centinells  with  drawn  Swords  in  their  hands  in 
Three  different  Parts  of  the  Vessell, 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.  383 

That  among  the  persons  by  whom  he  was  so  taken 
there  was  one  Michael  who  your  Petitioner  took  to  be 
the  Lieutenant  and  who  understood  the  Spanish  Lan- 
guage, to  whom  Your  Petitioner  apply ed  and  ac- 
quainted him  that  your  Petitioner  had  a  good  Passport 
from  the  Governour  of  New  York  and  desired  to  know 
why  they  used  him  in  that  manner,  to  which  the  said 
Michael  answered  that  Your  Petitioners  Passport 
would  Serve  him  to  no  purpose,  that  the  Governour 
had  deceived  him  and  that  they  had  a  better  Commis- 
sion. 

And  your  Petitioner  further  sets  forth  that  the  Per- 
sons by  whom  he  was  so  taken  Carry  ed  his  said  sloop 
with  him  and  his  men  that  Evening  to  Perth  Amboy 
in  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  where  his  people  were 
put  in  Prison  and  about  Midnight  that  same  Night 
severall  of  the  said  Captors  came  to  your  Petitioner 
and  demanded  papers  which  he  delivered  to  them 
among  which  were  Your  Excellencys  Passport  and 
Letter  and  the  other  Letters  aforesaid.  The  Pass  from 
the  Governour  of  Havannah  and  all  his  papers  of  Con- 
sequence. 

That  your  Petitioner  is  informed  that  on  the  Twenty 
Second  day  of  October  last  a-  Libell  was  filed  in  the 
Court  of  Admiralty  of  New  Jersey  in  the  Name  of 
John  Easom  Comander  of  the  "private  Vessell  of 
"  Warr  Called  Ranger  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the 
"owners  and  Confpany  of  the  said  private  Vessell  of 
"  Warr,  Praying  that  the  Cargo  of  Goods  on  board  of 
"  Your  Petitioners  said  Sloop  might  be  unladen  and 
''that  the  Kinds  and  Qualitys  of  the  Goods  on  board 
"  might  be  Inspected  and  a  full  account  Thereof  Taken 
"&  Exhibited  into  that  Court  and  that  all  such  Goods 
"on  board  as  were  not  necessary  for  Provisions  for 
"Your  Petitioners  and  his  Passengers  and  men  & 
"were  not  Exempt  from  Seizure  and  Confiscation 
"  might  be  Condemned  as  Prize. 


384  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.        [1746 

That  sometime  after  by  Virtue  of  an  Order  from 
The  Said  Court  Your  Petitioners  said  Vessell  was 
unladen  and  all  the  Goods  that  were  on  board  were 
taken  out  and  put  into  a  Store  at  Perth  Amboy. 

And  your  Petitioner  further  Sheweth  that  it  was 
insinuated  in  the  Said  Libell  that  Your  Petitioner  was 
under  Just  Suspicion  of  having  Gunpowder  Shot  and 
Warlike  Stores  on  board  his  said  Sloop  purchased  or 
procured  at  the  City  of  New  York  nothing  like  which 
appeared  upon  unlading  the  Said  Sloop. 

And  your  Petitioner  doth  further  Shew  that  the  Said 
Captors  finding  that  there  were  no  warlike  stores  or 
Contraband  Goods  but  there  were  some  other  Goods 
belonging  to  Your  Petitioner  on  board  They  in  order 
to  give  some  Color  to  Their  unjust  Proceedings  in 
Taking  Your  Petitioner  and  his  said  Sloop  and  Goods 
within  the  bounds  and  limits  of  Your  Excellencys 
Government  and  to  distress  and  delay  Yor  Petitioner, 
The  Proctor  for  the  said  Libellant  on  the  twelfth  day 
of  this  Instant  November  did  deliver  into  the  said 
Court  of  Admiralty  a  List  of  some  of  them  by  the 
name  of  a  "  List  of  Sundry  Merchandizes  Taken  from 
"on  board  the  Sloop  S*-  Migill  Vila  Vergin  Delos 
"Dolores  Don  Joseph  Espinosa  *  *  *  *  for  the 
"  Havannah  claimed  by  the  Libellants."  Well  know- 
ing that  your  Petitioner  is  wholly  a  Stranger  here  and 
That  he  Cannot  find  any  Security  in  this  Place  to 
Prosecute  his  Claim  and  Right  to  the  Same  as  is  Corn- 
only  used  to  be  insisted  upon  in  Some  Cases  by  means 
whereof  Your  Petitioner  is  not  only  in  danger  of 
Wholly  loosing  his  Said  Goods  but  also  he  and  his 
people  who  are  almost  Naked  not  having  Cloaths  to 
Withstand  the  inclemency  of  the  Weather  in  this  Cold 
Climate  by  being  long  delayed  here  wiU  be  in  great 
danger  of  Perishing  unless  Your  Excellency  will  be 
Pleased  to  Grant  him  Some  aid  and  assistance  in  the 
Premises  whereby  he  may  be  Speedily  relieved  out  of 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.  385 

this  Great  distress  and  be  enabled  soon  to  return  to 
Havannah. 

In  Tender  Consideration  of  all  which  and  for  as 
much  as  your  Petitioner,  his  Vessell  and  Goods 
attacked  and  taken  within  the  limits  and  bounds  of 
The  Province  of  New  York,  he  at  the  Time  of  his 
being  so  Taken  having  and  being  under  the  protection 
of  the  passport  granted  to  him  by  Your  Excellency 
then  and  Still  being  not  only  his  Brittannick  Majestys 
Governour  of  the  said  Province  but  also  Vice  Admiral 
of  the  Red  Squadron  of  his  said  Majesties  Fleet. 

Your  Petitioner  Therefore  most  humbly  Prays  that 
Your  Excellency  will  be  favorably  pleased  to  direct 
his  Majestys  advocate  Generall  for  the  said  Province  of 
New  York  to  Enter  and  Prosecute  a  Claim  in  the  said 
Court  of  Admiralty  in  his  Brittannick  Majesties  name 
on  behalf  of  Your  Petitioner  for  his  said  Goods  or  to 
grant  to  your  Petitioner  such  other  relief  in  the  Prem 
ises  as  your  Excellency  Shall  think  proper  just  and 
Reasonable. 

And  your  Petitioner  shall  ever  Pray  &c. 

JOSEPH  ESPINOSA. 


[Affidavits  in  Support  of  the  Charges  in  the  foregoing 

Petition.] 

The  Examination  of  Joseph  Espinosa  Master  of  the 
Sloop  Sl  Migel  a  Flag  of  Truce  that  Came  from  the 
Havannah  &  arrived  at  the  Port  of  New  York  on  the 
Nineteenth  of  July  1746  Taken  before  a  Committee  of 
His  Majestys  Council  of  the  Province  of  Now  York  on 
Monday  the  third  day  of  November  1746.  Mr.  Jacob 
Rodrigues  Reveres  being  sworn  Interpreter  on  that 
Occasion. 

The  said  Joseph  Espinosa  says  That  he  sailed  in  the 
aforesaid  Sloop  Sl  Migel  from  the  port  of  New  York 
26 


386  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

Yesterday  was  Fort'  night  On  his  Return  to  the  Hav- 
annah;  That  he  had  Dispatches  as  Master  of  a  Flag  of 
Truce  from  his  Excellency  the  Governour  of  New 
York  as  also  a  Letter  from  his  said  Excellency  to  the 
Havannah:  That  so  soon  as  he  had  sailed  with  his 
vessel  out  of  the  Harbour  &  passed  Nutten  Island 
point  The  person  who  was  .his  Pilot  ordered  the  Fore- 
sail of  the  Said  Sloop  to  be  struck  and  desired  Him 
(the  Examinate)  to  prepare  for  coming  to  an  Anchor, 
That  the  wind  and  tide  were  both  at  that  time  very 
fair,  That  soon  after  the  Examinate  discovered  two 
Shallops  at  a  Distance  the  largest  of  which  had  one 
Mast  and  the  Smallest  two  Masts  That  the  Pilot  upon 
looking  at  the  said  Shallops  or  Boats  through  the  Ex- 
aminators  Spying  Glass  Told  him  That  the  largest  of 
the  said  Boats  belonged  to  himself  and  that  thereupon 
the  Pilot  ordered  the  Colours  of  the  Examinates 
Sloop  to  be  lowered  half  Mast  Which  the  Pilot  told  the 
Examinate  was  a  Signal  for  his  Boat.  That  when 
the  said  two  Boats  were  within  the  Distance  of  Six 
Rod  of  the  Examinates  Vessel!.  Severall  of  the  Men 
in  the  two  Mast  boat  rose  up  and  being  come  a  little 
nearer  one  fired  a  pistol  That  there  were  in  all  he  be- 
leives  eleven  or  twelve  in  the  Boat.  That  he  Ordered 
his  sails  to  be  lowered  and  thinks  he  was  at  that  Time 
about  Midway  between  Nutten  Island  Point  &  the 
Narrows,  That  they  threatned  the  Examinate  in  the 
Spanish  Language  holding  up  their  Pistolls  &  Cut- 
lasses because  they  thought  he  was  not  quick  enough 
in  lowering  his  sails,  upon  which  he  told  them  That  he 
had  ordered  his  Sails  to  be  Struck  as  soon  as  possible, 
That  about  Eleven  or  twelve  men  came  out  of  the  said 
two  Mast  Boat  on  Board  the  Examinates  Vessell  and 
soon  after  Mr  Leister  the  Pilot  also  Came  on  board  and 
took  charge  of  the  Vessel  in  the  Room  of  the  Pilot 
That  had  charge  of  her  before  who  then  went  abord 
the  Boat  he  called  his  own,  That  the  Examinate  pro- 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION    OP    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  38? 

duced  the  passport  given  to  him  by  his  Excellency  tlu» 
Governour  of  New  York  to  a  Person  whom  he  was 
told  was  the  Captain  and  who  the  Examinate  says  is 
a  tall  man  and  has  one  of  his  legs  swelled.  That  he 
took  no  notice  of  the  Pass  but  Ordered  the  Exami- 
nates'  People  into  the  Hold  of  the  Vessell  and  Put 
three  Centinells  with  drawn  Swords  in  their  Hands  at 
different  Parts  of  the  Vessell.  That  among  the  afore- 
said Eleven  or  twelve  men  was  one  Michael  whom  the 
Examinate  took  to  be  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Aforesaid 
two  Mast  Boat  &  who  understood  Spanish  That  he 
acquainted  Michael  that  he  had  a  good  passport  from 
the  Governour  of  New  York  with  the  Approbation  of 
the  Council  and  Desired  to  know  why  they  had  used 
him  in  that  Manner  That  he  Answered  That  his  pass- 
port would  serve  him  to  no  purpose  The  Governour 
had  deceived  Him  And  They  had  a  better  Commission 
That  the  Examinate  (taking  them  to  be  pirates)  offered 
to  pull  off  his  Clothes  and  desired  them  to  take  all  he 
had,  Spare  his  Life  and  put  him  on  Shore.  That  they 
then  told  him  he  need  not  to  do  that  for  they  should 
soon  come  to  a  Place  where  in  two  days  they  woiUd 
take  out  what  was  in  his  Vessel  and  ballast  him  with 
stones  and  Waterandsend  him  away;  Thatthey  brought 
the  Examinate  with  his  Vessel  to  perth  amboy  that 
Night  where  his  People  were  put  in  Prison.  That  about 
Midnight  severall  of  the  aforesaid  eleven  or  twelve 
Men  came  to  him  the  Examinate  and  demanded  his 
papers,  which  he  delivered  to  them  among  which  were 
the  Governour  of  New  York  his  Pass,  The  pass  from 
the  Govern  our  of  Havannah  and  all  his  Papers  of  Con- 
sequence and  desired  them  to  take  Notice  of  his  giving 
up  of  those  papers  That  they  put  all  the  Papers  in  a 
Sheet  of  Paper  and  desired  the  Examinate  to  seal 
them  up  together  which  the  Examinate  did  with  a 
seal  one  of  them  gave  him  &  which  seal  he  hath  now 
in  his  Possession.  That  on  the  Monday  following 


388  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

Capt"  Farmer  Mr  Lewis  and  Capt"  Barnes  came  on 
board  the  Examiners  Vessell  and  told  him  they  had 
Put  their  three  slaves  in  Prison  whom  he  understood 
to  be  the  three  Spaniards  that  were  delivered  to  him  by 
the  [order?]  of  his  Excellency  the  Governour  of  New 
York  in  Council.  That  those  Gentlemen  told  him  That  if 
he  would  carry  those  Spaniards  with  him  he  must  pay 
for  them  for  that  they  intended  to  keep  them  as 
Slaves  until  they  were  paid  for.  That  the  Examinate 
replyed  he  bad  nothing  to  do  with  it,  He  had  acted  in 
Obedience  to  the  aforesaid  Order.  That  the  aforesaid 
Michael  interpreted  between  him,  the  Examinate  and 
the  said  three  Gentlemen,  Told  him  that  They 
Said  that  the  Governour  of  New  York  told  them  It 
was  the  Examinates  Fault  That  those  three  Spaniards 
were  taken  away.  And  the  Exami?  further  Says  that 
the  Men  belonging  to  the  aforesaid  two  Mast  Boat  took 
away  all  his  Keys,  Chests  &  Clothes  That  some  day 
afterwards  they  sent  him  (upon  the  Advice  of  Some 
Gentleman  at  Arnboy)  a  small  Frank  [Trunk?]  with  all 
his  Linnen  but  that  the  rest  of  his  Clothing  they  have 
in  their  Custody 

JOSEPH  ESPINOSA 
Sworn  before  me  the  day  of 
November  1746. 

DANL  HORRMANDER. 


The  Examination  of  Michael  Beasley  of  the  City  of 
New  York  Mariner  taken  before  a  Committee  of  his 
Majesty s  Council  for  the  Province  of  New  York  At 
the  Council  Chamber  In  the  City  of  New  York  the 
fifth  day  of  November  1746. 

Michael  Beasley  the  Examinate  Says  that  he  was  on 
board  the  privateer  Eanger  in  the  Capacity  of  a  Fore- 
mast man  when  the  Flag  of  Truce  that  lately  sailed 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  389 

from  New  York  on  her  Return  to  the  Havannah  was 
taken  by  the  said  Privateer.  That  She  was  taken  he 
thinks  a  litttle  below  Sinimione  Ferry  about  Midway 
between  Long  Island  &  Statten  Island.  That  he  was 
Interpreter  between  the  Spanish  Captain  and  John 
Easom  the  Commander  of  the  Privateer.  That  he  told 
the  Spanish  Captain  by  the  Directions  of  the  said 
Easom  That  they  had  received  Information  of  sundry 
Goods  &  Merchandize  being  shipped  on  board  his  Flag 
of  Truce  by  some  persons  in  New  York  which  he  must 
deliver  up  or  he  would  otherwise  be  carried  into  an 
English  Port  and  that  he  must  shew  them  the  Letters 
&  papers  he. had:  That  among  the  papers  produced 
There  was  one  which  the  said  Espinosa  said  was  the 
Governour  of  New  Yorks  Pass  That  the  Examinate 
told  him  (by  the  directions  of  the  aforesaid  Easom)  he 
might  put  it  in  his  pocket.  The  Examinate  says  That 
when  they  had  brought  the  Vessell  to  Amboy  the 
Spanish  Captain  was  told  That  if  he  would  deliver  up 
such  Goods  as  he  had  on  Freight  &  the  Invoice  of 
Goods  Consigned  to  him.  He  might  go  about  his  Busi- 
ness. To  which  he  replyed  That  he  had  only  his  Provi- 
sions and  a  few  Trifles  belonging  to  himself  on  board 
the  Examinate  Says  that  the  aforesaid  privateer  was 
fitted  out  to  take  this  Flag  of  Truce  or  any  of  his  Maj- 
estys  Enemies.  Information  having  been  given  that 
She  had  on  board  Gunpowder  &  other  Warlike  Stores 
That  Captain  Tingley,  Captain  Easom  and  himself  are 
the  only  persons  the  Examinate  knows  of  that  were 
Concerned  in  fitting  out  the  aforesaid  Privateer  The 
Examinate  being  asked  why  he  did  not  inform  the 
Government  of  New  York.  That  Inform"  had  been 
given  Them  That  Gunpowder  &  other  warlike  stores 
were  on  Board  the  Flag  of  Truce,  said  the  aforesaid 
Espinosa  had  offered  to  Engage  him  the  Examinate 
and  his  ship  to  carry  a  Cargo  of  Flour  to  the  Havan- 
nah where  he  would  insure  him  to  get  seven  pieces  of 


390  ADMIKISTKATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

Eight  and  a  half  for  each  Barrell.  The  Exanimate 
being  asked  whether  he  though  the  aforesaid  privateer 
was  a  fit  vessell  to  go  to  sea  to  Cruize  agl  his  Majesties 
Enemys  Said  He  thought  she  was  a  suft1  Vessell  for 
that  purpose  and  would  go  to  sea  and  Command  her 
and  has  gone  to  Sea  in  a  less  Vessell. 

MICH'  BEASLEY. 


The  examination  of  John  Easom  of  the  City  of  New 
York  Marriner,  taken  before  a  Committee  of  his 
Majesties  Council  for  the  province  of  New  York  At 
the  Council  Chamber  in  the  said  City  on  the  fifth  day 
of  November  1746. 

The  said  John  Easom  says  That  he  lately  had  a 
Comission  from  the  Judge  of  Admiralty  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  Jersey  as  Commander  of  the  Privateer 
Ranger  a  two  Mast  Boat,  Burthen  about  five  or  six 
Tons  belonging  the  port  of  New  York.  That  one 
Acklin  was  his  Lieutenant  That  himself  Captain  Ting- 
ley  and  Captain  Beasley  fitted  out  the  said  boat,  having 
first  [fixed?]  at  a  Certain  Sum  to  be  paid  for  Each  day 
they  should  keep  the  said  Boat  in  their  Service.  That 
on  Sunday  the  14  of  October  last,  The  Examinate  being 
in  the  aforesaid  boat  with  eleven  or  twelve  white  men 
and  three  or  four  Negroes  Took  a  certain  Sloop  that 
Came  as  a  Flag  of  Truce  from  the  Havana  and  was 
then  on  her  Return  from  New  York  to  that  place  as 
he  beleives  of  which  Sloop  one  Espinosa  was  Master 
or  Commander,  That  at  the  time  of  taking  her  the 
Examinate  was  near  the  Watering  place  on  the  Staten 
Island  Shore,  That  the  Examinate  as  soon  as  he  came 
on  board  the  Flag  of  Truce  asked  the  said  Espinosa  by 
one  Michael  Beesley  who  was  Interpreter  between 
them  what  Goods  or  Merchandizes  he  had  on  Board 
and  desired  him  to  deliver  up  his  papers.  That  the 
said  Espinosa  gave  the  Examinate  his  Excellency  the 


174C]       ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  391 

Governour's  pass,  which  the  Examinate  bid  him  put 
in  his  Pocket  and  some  other  Papers  which  the  Exani- 
mate delivered  to  him  again  That  the  Examinate  then 
Carried  the  said  Espinosa  and  his  Vessell  into  Amboy 
Acquainted  the  president  of  the  Council  that  he  had 
taken  the  Flag  of  Trace  that  came  from  New  York 
and  desired  to  know  what  to  do  with  the  prisoners. 
That  the  president  at  first  sayd  he  did  not  know.  But 
upon  the  Examinators  desiring  to  know  if  they  could 
be  Secured  that  Night,  The  President  Ordered  one  Mr 
Smith  to  go  with  the  Examinate  to  have  them  secured. 
That  the  Night  of  his  Arrival  there  he  ordered  his 
Lieutenant  to  go  on  board  the  Flag  of  Truce  and  to 
take  what  papers  he  could  find  and  get  the  Spanish 
Captain  to  Seal  them  up  with  his  own  Seal  which  his 
Lieutenant  afterwards  told  him  he  had  done  accord- 
ingly And  which  papers  together  with  some  others 
that  were  found  by  the  Marshal  of  the  Admiralty  on 
his  taking  out  the  Goods,  the  Examinate  says  he  has 
now  in  his  possession  That  the  Examinate  did  not  take 
away  the  said  Espinosas  wearing  apparel  But  on  his 
refusing  to  take  them  they  were  put  them  along  with 
the  Goods  taken  out  of  the  Flag  of  Truce  and  are  now 
he  supposes  in  Custody  of  the  Mai-shall  of  the  Admi- 
ralty Except  some  of  his  Linnen  which  was  after- 
wards given  to  him,  That  the  Examinate  offered  to 
deliver  up  to  the  said  Espinosa  all  the  people  that  were 
on  board  The  Flag  of  Truce  at  the  Time  she  was  taken 
except  four  Negroes  which  appeared  by  Receits  among 
the  said  Espinosas  papers  to  have  been  Purchased  by 
him  at  New  York  whom  he  detained  as  Merchandize 
and  as  such  they  are  Libelled,  That  three  Negroes 
were  claimed  by  Mess1"8  Farmer  Lewis  &  Barnes  and 
afterwards  taken  by  writts  of  Replevin.  The  Exam- 
inate being  asked  whether  his  Commission  was  taken 
out  for  any  other  Purpose  than  to  take  the  aforesaid 
Flag  of  Truce  He  said  that  he  intended  to  take  any  of 


392  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.        [1746 

his  Majestys  Enemys  or  their  property  wherever  he 
could  find  them,  And  the  Examinate  being  also  asked 
how  he  Came  to  take  a  Flag  of  Truce  in  this  Govern- 
ment that  had  his  ExcelTy  the  Goveraours  pass  Said 
he  acted  as  he  Conceived  pursuant  to  his  Instructions 
and  not  with  advice  The  Examinate  further  says 
That  the  aforesaid  Lieutenant  did  deliver  unto  him  the 
papers  above  mentioned  to  have  been  sealed  up  with 
the  Spanish  Captains  own  Seal  and  that  the  Exam- 
inate or  any  other  to  his  Knowledge  has  not  opened 
the  said  Bundle  of  papers  Sealed  But  that  he  offered 
before  Mr  Kearney  &  Mr  Nevil  of  Amboy  to  deliver  to 
the  said  Espinosa  the  Spanish  Captain  his  Vessell  & 
more  provis"  than  was  found  aboard  &  all  papers  Con- 
tained in  the  said  Bundle  relating  to  the  said  Espinosa 
as  a  Flag  of  Truce  and  that  the  Ex?  would  not  nor  did 
not  suffer  any  of  his  people  to  meddle  with  or  touch 
any  of  the  prov8  or  Store  belonging  to  the  Flag  of 
Truce,  The  Examinate  being  asked  whether  he  thought 
the  aforesaid  privateer  was  a  fit  Vessell  to  go  to  sea  to 
Cruise  ag*  his  Majestys  Enemys  said  that  answered 
their  Purpose. 

JOHN  EASOM. 


Letter  from  Elisha  Parker,  Acting  for  the  Proprietors 
of  East  Jersey,  to  the  Committee  making  the  pro- 
posals under  date  of  August  11th  1746. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library,  Vol.  P.' 
and  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V.] 

Perth  Amboy  August  29l.h  1746 
Sir 

Had  you  Staid  in  this  Town  the  half  hour  which 
you  agreed  to  Stay  on  Wednesday  the  134!1  Instant 
when  you  delivered  me  the  paper  Dated  August  II1? 
Said  to  be  transcribed  by  Order  of  the  Committee.  I 


174C]       ADMINISTRATION  OF   PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  393 

Should  then  have  acquainted  you  that  I  had  Laid  that 
paper  before  the  Council  of  Proprietors.  And  that  the 
Proprietors  have  but  Joseph  Murray,  William  Smith 
&  David  Ogden  Esqr'  for  their  Council  &  Elisha  Par- 
ker the  Subscriber  hereof  for  their  Attorney  Engaged 
in  this  Cause  nor  have  they  Engaged  nor  do  they  in- 
tend to  Engage  any  more  than  the  said  three  Council 
and  one  Attorney  in  this  cause — and  that  they  did  not 
think  proper  to  release  any  one  of  their  said  Council 
for  the  reasons  following  viz* 

1'*  because  they  have  been  Several  Years  feed  as 
Council  in  this  matter  and  have  advised  on  &  perused 
the  draught  of  the  Special  Verdict  proposed  by  the 
Letter  of  June  30th  to  be  prepared  On  the  part  of  the 
Proprietors  and  the  Evidences  to  Support  it,  and  it 
might  be  of  the  most  mischievous  Consequence  for 
any  one  to  whom  the  Evidences  of  a  Title  on  one  Side 
are  Communicated  that  he  should  be  afterwards  En- 
gaged as  Council  or  Attorney  on  the  other  Side. 

2d!y  for  that  their  are  many  other  Attorneys  &  prac- 
titioners of  the  Law  of  note  in  New  York,  New  Jersey, 
&  Pensilvania  who  practise  in  the  Courts  of  New  Jer- 
sey, who  are  neither  Engaged  by  fee  or  Interest  on 
the  side  of  the  Proprietors 

3d.Iy  For  that  if  the  other  Attorneys  &  Council  not 
Engaged  in  this  Cause,  have  refused  or  should  refuse 
to  be  Concerned  in  it,  for  the  Committee  The  Council 
of  Proprietors  are  well  assured  that  the  Committee 
have  been  informed  near  a  Year  agoe  by  Mr  Ogden  that 
the  Supream  Court  could  &  upon  application  no  doubt 
would,  Oblige  a  proper  number  of  Attorneys  &  Council 
to  flerve  the  Committee;  and  they  think  its  a  pity  that 
the  Committee  should  have  neglected  the  three  Several 
Terms  of  March.  May  &  August  last  to  move  the 
Court  for  that  purpose,  At  any  of  which  terms  they 
might  have  moved  this  matter,  if  the  Committee  had 
thought  proper  so  to  doe 


394  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [174-6 

To  the  above  purpose  I  Should  have  Acquainted  you 
had  you  Staid  the  half  hour  agreed  on  and  the  Com- 
mittee might  thereon  have  moved  the  Supream  Court 
(which  was  then  Sitting,  and  continued  Sitting  till  the 
Tuesday  after)  for  Such  Attorneys  and  Council  to  be 
appointed  them  as  they  might  have  thought  proper  to 
name.  But  as  you  did  not  then  Stay,  The  Council  of 
Proprietors  upon  further  consideration  of  the  said 
Paper  of  August  11th  have  Ordered  me  to  Acquaint 
you  that  they  are  Sorry  for  the  Loss  of  so  much  time 
as  may  be  occasioned  by  the  neglect  of  Joyning  Issue  in 
Last  Term  (which  they  on  their  parts  were  ready  to 
have  done,)  for  it  may  draw  with  it  the  Loss  of  the 
next  Term  of  November  which  Sits  at  Burlington,  and 
where  probably  neither  of  the  Council  or  Attorney  of 
the  Proprietors  do  dessign  to  Attend,  and,  where  it 
would  be  as  Difficult  for  the  Committee  (who  Live 
above  TO  Miles  Distance  from  Burlingten)  as  for  the 
Proprietors  to  get  persons  to  attend  there,  to  Enter 
into  Bonds — muttually  according  to  the  proposals  of 
the  Letter  of  June  SO*11— 

To  prevent  which  Loss  of  time  as  much  as  possible 
I  am  Ordered  by  the  Council  of  Proprietors  to  acquaint 
you  that  at  any  time  betwixt  this  and  next  November 
term,  upon  a  week's  Notice  from  the  Committee,  I  as 
Attorney  for  the  Proprietors  will  be  ready  at  Perth 
Amboy  to  Enter  into  the  General  Rule,  and  to  give 
Security  to  prosecute  the  Suit  as  is  proposed  to  be  done 
by  the  Letter  of  June  30l.h  upon  their  doing  the  Like. 

And  also  to  acquaint  you  that  the  Council  for  the 
Proprietors  will  be  ready  at  New  York  upon  a  weeks 
notice  There  to  Settle  the  form  of  the  Special  Verdict 
in  the  Cause  with  whatever  Council  or  Attorneys  the 
Committee  Shall  Employ.  If  which  be  done  &  agreed 
on  before  next  November  Term  They  the  Council  of 
Proprietors  will  Employ  one  of  their  Council  at  Law 
on  purpose  to  go  to  November  Term  At  Burlington,  in 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  395 

order  to  have  the  Special  Verdict  found  &  then  &  there 
to  argue  &  pray  Judgment  upon  it  &  to  do  everything 
with  Speed  as  proposed  by  the  Letter  of  June  30?  or 
Shall  be  agreed  on  between  their  Council  &  the  Coun- 
cil of  the  Committee 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  Acquaint  you  that  Mess™  Alex- 
ander &  Morris  were  ready  &  attending  at  Perth  amboy 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  August  instant  to  have  given 
bonds  with  Security  according  to  the  Letter  of  June 
30l.h  And  that  Still  at  any  time  between  this  and  next 
November  Term  on  a  Week's  Notice  they  will  be  ready 
to  give  Such  Securitys  upon  the  giving  to  them  Secur- 
itys  as  by  the  said  Letter  proposed. 

I  am  also  Ordered  to  acquaint  you  that  there  are 
Sundry  things,  in  the  Said  paper  of  August  11th  which 
the  Council  of  Proprietors  are  far  from  admitting  to 
be  true  or  Just  reserving  to  themselves  the  Liberty  of 
pointing  them  out  when  occasion  requires,  which  they 
think  no  way  necessary  to  do  by  this  Letter  I  am 

Sir  Your  humble  Servant 

ELISHA  PARKER, 

Attorney  for  the  General  Proprietors  of  East  New 
Jersey  on  the  Cause  of  Stykes  on  the  Demise  of  Sir 
George  Carteret  Versus  John  Noakes  for  Lands  in 
possession  of  Francis  Spier. 
To  Mr  Nathanel  Camp. 

Septr  191!1  1746,  This  Day  I  delivered  to  Mr  Nathanel 
Camp  the  Original  Letter  whereof  the  preceding  is  a 
true  Copy  Witness  my  hand  DAVID  OGDEN. 


Affidavit  of  Elisha  Parker,  Attorney  at  Law,  relative 
to  legal  proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  the  Riot- 
ers. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V.J 

ELISHA  PARKER  Attorney  at  Law  being  duely  Sworn 
on  the  holy  Evangelists  on  his  Oath  declares  that  he 


396  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

being  Employd  as  Attorney  for  the  General  Proprie- 
tors of  the  Eastern  Division  of  New  Jersey  in  the 
Action  of  Ejectment  agreed  to  be  brought  by  them  by 
their  Letter  of  June  the  SO1?1  1746  in  Compliance  with 
the  proposals  made  to  the  Assembly  by  the  Committee 
of  the  Eioters  in  April  Last,  and  delivered  to  the  Late 
Governour,  he  did  write  the  Original  Letter  directed 
to  Nathaniel  Camp  bearing  date  the  29*?1  day  of  August 
Last  whereof  a  true  Copy  is  annexed  and  does  verily 
believe  that  David  Ogden  one  of  the  Council  for  the 
Proprietors  in  that  Action  did  Deliver  the  Said  Origi- 
nal Letter  according  to  his  Certificate  whereof  Copy  is 
at  the  End  of  the  Said  Letter  and  further  Saith  that 
neither  the  said  Nathaniel  Camp  nor  any  of  the  Eiot- 
ers Committee  nor  any  of  them  has  ever  Since  applyd 
to  him  to  Joyn  Issue  in  the  said  Action  or  to  do  any- 
thing whatsoever  in  pursuance  of  the  said  Letter  of 
August  291?1  Last  and  farther  Saith  that  he  attended 
the  Supream  Court,  at  Burlington  in  November  Last, 
the  greatest  part  of  the  Term  during  all  which  time  no 
application  whatsoever  was  made  by  the  said  Commit- 
tee or  any  of  them  or  any  for  them,  for  having  any 
Attorneys  or  Council  assigned  them  for  the  Defence  of 
the  said  Action,  and  Since  the  End  of  the  said  Term 
of  November  he  has  perused  the  Minutes  of  the'  Su- 
pream Court  during  that  Term  in  which  he  has  not 
found  any  Such  motion  to  have  been  made  nor  has  he 
otherwise  heard  that  any  Such  motion  was  made  and 
farther  this  Deponent  doth  verily  believe  that  no  ap- 
plication has  been  made  to  any  of  the  Proprietors 
Council  by  the  Said  Committee  of  the  Rioters  or  any 
of  them  or  any  person  for  them  pursuant  to  the  said 
Letter  of  August  SO1!1  because  this  Deponent  has  Lately 
Since  November  Term  aforesaid  been  told  by  Joseph 
Murray  and  William  Smith  Esqr°  that  no  Such  Appli- 
cation has  been  made  to  them  or  either  of  them  and  as 
to  David  Ogden  the  other  Council  he  this  Deponent 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  397 

has  also  since  the  said  November  Term  discoursed 
with  him  about  the  said  Letter  of  August  29*."  and  if 
any  such  application  had  been  made  to  the  said  Ogden 
this  Deponent  doubts  not  but  he  would  have  Com- 
municated it  to  him  but  so  far  from  it  that  he  told 
this  Deponent  he  did  not  believe  the  said  Committee 
wanted  to  have  a  Tryal  at  all  and  further  Saith  not 

.  ELISHA  PARKER' 

Sworn  the  23?  day  of  December  1746  before  Rob?  H. 
Morris. 


State  of  the  Facts  about  the  Riots  from  September 
19M,  1745,  to  December  $t?>,  1746. 

[From  Copies  among  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library 
Book  P,  No.  1  and  Bundle  X,  p.  18.] 

State  of  the  Facts,  Concerning  the  Late  Riots  at 
Newark  in  the  County  of  Essex,  &  in  other 
parts  of  New  Jersey;  December  24,  1746. 

proof  of  the    [Sent  over  by  the  Councill  there  to  the  Duke 
Facts  Appear-  of  New  Castle  &  Lords  of  Trade.! 

ing 

Letter  of  1745  September  191.1'  one  Samuel  Baldwin 
teing  Committed  to  the  Goal  for  the  Coun- 
of  the  ttj  of  Essex  at  Newark  in  An  Action  of 
-  Trespass  for  Cutting  of  Trees  wherein  he 
o  n-  re^use(^  to  give  bail,  or  Enter  an  Appear- 
To  chief  jus-  ance.  About  One  hundred  and  Fifty  men,  in 
uce  Morris.  a  riotous  manner,  came  to  the  said  Goal, 


"  was  bred  to  the  pro- 

fessionofthelawiin- 
cier  James  Alexan- 
der,  whose  daughter 

Catherine,  he  married.  He  was  licensed  May  3d,  1745,  and  died  of  consumption 
March  14th,  1761,  aged  47.  His  widow  married  Walter  Rutherfurd,  then  an  officer 
in  the  Army  and  was  the  mother  of  the  late  John  Rutherfurd  of  Belleville.— ED. 


398  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.        [1746 

New  York     with  Clubbs,    Axes  and   Crowbarrs,  broke 
post-boy  of   open  Said  Goal,  and  took  out  the  said  Pris- 

feb.  17. 

oner. 

Several  of  the  said  Eioters  then  Used  many  threat- 
said  Letter  of  nmg  expressions,  against  all  persons  that 
sep'  ao'"  Should  Endeavour  to  punish  any  of  them  for 
perpetrating  the  afores^  fact. 

They  then  further  threatened  that,  Should  any  per- 
son be  Committed  for  the  above  Fact,  or  for  any  Tres- 
said  Letter  of  Pass  done  on  Lands  claimed  by  them  on  any 
sepf.  2o<!>  Indian  purchase  Right,  they  would  come  to 
Such  persons  relief  with  double  the  Number  of  men. 
—This  threatning  they  made  good  by  the  Riot  of  Jan- 
uary Last  hereafter  mentioned. 

On  the  Same  19th  of  September  the  said  Rioters  at 

said  Letter  of  the  Same  time  threatned  that  they  would  be 

assisted  by  One  hundred  Indians  for  the  re- 

leiving  of  any  Person  that  Should  be  so  Committed. 

This  Threat,  at  that  time,  and  till  Lately,  was 
thought,  by  most  people,  to  be  ridiculous  and  impossi- 
ble, because  the  whole  Province  of  New  Jersey  had 
then  Scarcely  half  that  Number  of  Indian  men  belong- 
ing to  it,  or  residing  in  it,  and  not  one  of  them  within 
thirty  Miles  of  Newark,  and  but  two  Indian  men, 
within  fifty  Miles  of  Newark,  to  Witt,  Andrew  & 
Peter  Living  near  Cranberry  on  the  Navesink  Side  of 
Raritan,  about  forty  Miles  from  Newark,  but  the 
Transactions  of  the  Committee  of  the  Rioters,  with  the 
said  Andrew,  in  February  before  the  said  Riot  and  the 
Information  herein  after  mentioned  of  the  Number  of 
Indians  Lately  Come,  and  Expected  to  come,  to  Live 
near  to  the  said  Andrew  (on  Some  Lands  he  there 
claims  as  his)  is  like  to  render  that  Threat  not  only 
possible  to  be  put  in  Execution,  but  probable  that  it 
will  be  So. 

On  the  Same  lO*?1  of  September  two  Justices  of  the 
Peace  with  the  under  Sheriff  of  the  said  County  of 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION    OP    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  39« 

record  med    Essex  —  Recorded  the  said  Riot  on  their  View 
r:  court  to  have  been  Committed  by  twenty  seven 
persons,  by  them  named  in  their  Said  Rec- 


Ctenl  ord,  and  by  many  other  Evil  doers  and  Dis- 

turbers of  the  Peace  of  our  Lord  the  King,  to  them 
unknown,  to  the  Number  of  One  hundred  Persons,  at 
the  Least. 

1745  September  24l.h  a  Court  of  General  Quarter  Ses- 

sions of  the  Peace  being  then  held  at  Newark,  for  the 

the  indict-    said  County  of  Essex,    the    Grand    Jury 

ment  in  that  thereof    presented    a  Bill    of    Indictment 

Court  &  Copy 

in  Attorney  against  Six  of  the  Rioters  with  many  others 
>nenu  hands  Unknowilj  for  committing  the  said  Riot. 

1745.  September  28^  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
of  this  Province  Sent  a  Message  to  the  then  house  of 
Representatives;  in  which  amongst  other  things  he 
Set  forth  the  Dangerous  State  of  this  Prov- 
utesoTAB»em-  mce  m  relati°n  to  the  French  and  Indians, 
biy  herewith  an(j  in  which  Message  there  is  also  this  Para- 

No.  1  page  5  , 

graph; 

"  I  send  you  also  an  Account  of  a  Notorious  Riot, 
"  Lately  Committed  at  Newark,  if  it  be  not  Something 
"  worse;  If  the  Indians  can  be  prevailed  on  to  joyn  in 
''Attempts  of  this  Kind,  we  may  soon  have  a  war 
"with  them  in  our  own  bo  wells,  encouraged  by  the 
"Kings  Subjects;  The  threat  is  of  Dangerous  Conse- 
"  quence,  But  if  they  Should  not,  if  these  Rioters  can- 
"  not  be  brought  to  Justice,  all  Civil  process  must  Soon 
"Cease,  and  the  Government  be  overturned,  The  Infec- 
"tion  will  soon  Spread,  from  Such  a  Notorious  Riot, 
"  to  a  Rebellion;  So  that  I  hope  you  will  not  be  want- 
"  ing  in  your  Care  Concerning  it,  and  making  Such 
*  '  Provisions,  by  a  Militia  Act  or  other  Acts,  as  to  pre- 
"  vent  the  Like  for  tho  future." 

1745.  October  3d  The  then  House  of  Representatives 
iaid  Minutes  ^en*  ^°  *^s  Excellency  a  Message  in  Answer 
of  Assembly  to  his  in  which  amongst  other  other  things 
p**el  there  was  this  Paragraph. 


400  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

It  is  with  Concern  they  hear  of  the  Riott  committed 
at  Newark,  and  with  Abhorence  of  all  Such  Actions 
Look  on  those  who  will  not  be  Subject  to  the  "  good 
"and  wholesome  Laws  of  our  Nation  as  Enemies  to 
"  the  common  Good — Nevertheless,  as  far  as  we  know 
"  the  Laws,  now  in  force,  are  Sufficient  for  the  pun- 
ishment of  those  that  are  Guilty  of  the  breach  of 
"  them,  and  the  House  are  of  the  Oppinion  that  all 
'  Violaters  of  the  Laws  ought  to  be  very  Early  brought 
"  to  Justice,  otherwise,  as  His  Excellency  very  justly 
"observes,  the  infection  will  soon  Spread?" 

To  which  his  Excellency  the  Go\ernorbya  Message 
of  the  18v.h  of  October  1745,  did  reply,  in  these  words, 
"  The  Laws  are  Sufficient  to  punish  Rioters,  or  other 
"Offenders,  but  neither  the  present  Militia  Act,  nor 
"any  that  you  have  Attempted  to  make,  are  Sufficient 
"to  Quell  a  Riot  of  this  kind,  or  perhaps  an  Insurec- 
"tion,  for  which  force  may  be  Necessary,  which  can- 
"not  be  Continued,  without  Some  provission  to  Sup- 
"  port  them,  nor  can  the  Officers  and  Courts  necessary 
"to  Convict  them,  attend  that  Service, — without  Sal- 
"arys,  or  Some  provission  to  deffray  the  Charge  of 
"prosecution,  which  are  not  provided,  nor,  as  appears 
"  intended  to  be  provided,  by  your  house. 
On  the  Same  18th  of  October  1745  His  Excellency 
Minutes  of  the  Grovernor,  by  Advice  of  the  Council, 
council  &  Issued  his  Orders  to  His  Maiestys  Attorney 

Warrant         ~  ,  '•..««  •        , 

sign'd  by  the  cMBWWU,  to  proceed,  with  all  Convenient 
Gov '  Speed  to  prosecute,  by  Information  or  other 

Lawful  Method,  Agreable  to  the  Lav/s  of  England 
and  the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  Such  Delinquents  as 
were  then  already  discovered  to  have  been  Active  in 
the  said  Late  Notorious  &  Dangerous  Riot  Committed 
at  Newark  and  Such  others  as  from  time  Should  be 
discovered  to  have  been  Active  therein.— 

On  the  Same  IS1-'1  of  October  His  Excellency  the 
Governour  by  and  with  the  Advice  of  His  Majesty's 


1740]        ADMINISTRATION    OF    PHKSIDKNT    HAMILTON.  401 

Council  Issued  his  Warrant  under  his  hand  &  Seal  At 
Anns,  directed  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Essex, 
thereby  Commanding  the  said  Sheriff  to  make  Diligent 
Search  for  &  to  apprehend  the  said  Rioters,  &  to  bring 
them  before  the  Chief  Justice,  or  Some  other  Justices  of 
His  Majesties  Supream  Court  of  Judicature  for  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey,  who  were  thereby  directed 
to  Committ  them  to  any  Common  Goal,  in  whatsoever 
County  of  the  said  Province  they  Should  think  most 
proper,  untill  they  Should  Severally  find  Sureties  for 
their  personal  Appearance,  at  the  next  Supream  Court 
that  Should  be  held  in  and  for  the  said  Province  after 
their  being  so  Apprehended,  and  to  be  of  the  good  beha- 
viour in  the  meantime;  thereby  further  Commanding 
all  Sheriffs,  Coroners,  Constables  and  other  Officers,  in 
the  Several  Counties  of  the  said  Province,  and  all  others 
his  Majesty's  Liege  Subjects,  to  be  Aiding  and  Assist- 
ing the  said  Sheriff  in  Apprehending  and  taking  the 
said  Rioters. 

1745.  January  15tb  The  Sheriff  of  Essex  by  virtue  of 

the  said  Warrant,  and  Also  by  virtue  of  Writts,  Issued 

out  of  the  Supream  Court,  upon  the  Record 

Letter  of  Jan.  r 

22  iwwfrom  of  the  aforesaid,atNewark  aforesaid.  Arrested 
L^^the*  Robert  Young,  Thomas  Sarjeant,  &  Nelw- 
AttomeyGen-  miah  Baldwin  three  of  the  persons  Named  in 
esheriff82lA^-  *ne  Record  aforesaid,  and  then  proposed  to 
co<  of  the  them  to  Enter  into  Recognizance,  as  the  Said 
e  Warrants  and  Writts  required  ;—  The  Said 


both  before   Young  &  Baldwin  pretended  they  had  no 

friends  in  Town  to  do  it,  but  would  Send  to 

their  friends  to  come  to  do  it  with  them;  —  Serjeant  had 

a  Brother  in  Newark  Town,  who  Offered  to  be  his 

Surety,  but  Serjeant  absolutely  refused  to  Enter  into 

any  Recognizance;  wherefore  the  said  Sheriff  Com- 

mitted them  to  Newark  Goal  and  he  being,  as  well 

Collonel  of  the  Militia,  as  Sheriff  of  the  said  County, 

Ordered  two  of  the  Officers,  of  each  of  the  two  Tom- 

27 


402  ADMINISTRATION   OF1   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

pany?s  of  foot,  belonging  to  Newark,  to  raise  fifteen 
men  each,  to  guard  the  Prison  that  night,  which,  with 
a  great  deal  of  trouble,  was,  at  Last  done, — And  the 
Sheriff  watched  with  them,  himself,  all  that  night. 

1745.  January  161?1  in  the  Morning  Sundry  of  the 
Guard,  who  watched,  wanted  to  be  discharged,  but  the 
Sheriff  refused  to  discharge  them  till  other  men  were 
the  same  £°^  to  relieve  them,  &  Sent  the  Officers  of 
proof  as  the  the  Guard  to  bring  others,  but  they  could 
get  none;  wherefore  the  Same  persons  Con- 
tinued on  Guard. 

About  ten  in  the  Morning  of  the  16^  the  said  Sheriff 
Ordered  Several  persons  present  to  Assist  him,  in  Car- 
rying Baldwin,  one  of  the  Prisoners  before  a  Judge  of 
the  Supream  Court,  as  by  the  said  Warrant  he  was 
directed,  most  of  them  made  frivolous  pretences,  as 
that  they  had  no  horses,  and  could  not  go,  and  per- 
ceiving their  Coolness  to  Assist  him,  he  with  all  he 
could  gett,  which  were  only  Major  Johnson,  Isaac 
Lyon,  Daniel  Harrison,  and  two  or  three  more  pro- 
ceeded with  the  said  Baldwin,  but  before  he  had  gone 
two  Miles,  they  were  assaulted  by  a  great  Number  of 
persons,  with  Clubbs  and  other  Weapons,  who,  in  a 
most  Violent  manner,  rescued,  and  Carry ed  away, 
the  Prisoner,  tho  they  had  been  beat  off  for  near  a 
Mile  distance,  after  the  beginning  of  the  Assault. 

The  Sheriff  and  his  Assistants  then  returned  to  the 
Goal,  to  Secure  the  other  two  persons  there,  and  had, 
then,  for  that  purpose  two  Captains,  three  Lieuten- 
ants, five  Justices  of  the  Peace,  two  Constables,  and 
about  twenty  Six  Soldiers,  well  Armed;  but  by  two  of 
the  Clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  people  gathered  to- 
gether in  Town,  to  the  Number  of  about  two  hundred, 
every  one  having  a  Clubb,  where  upon  two  Justices  at 
the  Sheriff's  request,  went  to  them,  and  asked  the 
meaning  of  their  meeting,  together  in  Such  a  Manner, 
they  Answered  they  wanted  the  other  two  prisoners. 


lM'i|        ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  403 

The  Justices  Used  persuasions  with  them  to  disperse, 
but  to  no  Effect,  wherefore,  the  said  Justices  Com- 
manded Silence,  and  one  of  them  read  the  Kings  Procla- 
mation Appointed  by  the  first  of  King  George  against 
Riots,  &  Acquainted  the  people  with  the  bad  Conse- 
quences of  Such  proceedings,  but  they  paid  no  regard 
either  to  the  Proclamation  or  to  what  was  Said  to 
them. 

Two  of  the  New  Captains  of  the  Newark  Companies 
by  the  Sheriffs  Order  went  with  their  Drumms,  to  the 
people  So  mett,  and  required  all  persons  there,  belong- 
ing to  their  Companies,  to  follow  the  Drums,  and  to 
Deffend  the  Prison,  but  none  followed,  tho'  many  there, 
upon  which  one  Amos  Robards  of  Newark,  mounted 
his  horse,  and  in  words  to  this  or  the  Like  Effect,  hol- 
lowed out,  Those  who  are  upon  my  List,  follow  me; 
which  all,  or  the  greatest  part,  did,  their  Number  then 
was  Esteemed  to  be  about  three  hundred. 

The  Said  Robards  and  Several  others  Came  from  the 
Multitude  So  mett,  to  the  Sheriff  on  Guard  at  the  Goal, 
and  said  they  came  to  know  upon  what  Terms  he 
would  Let  the  prisoners  out?  who  answered  on  their 
giving  Surety  for  their  Appearance  At  the  next  Su- 
pream  Court,  and  no  otherwise  and  would  send  to  M- 
Justice  Bonnell,  Second  Judge  of  the  Supream  Court, 
to  Come  and  take  the  Security,  if  they  desired  it; 

Whereupon,  they  returned  to  the  Multitude,  who, 
between  four  and  five  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon. 
Lighted  off  their  horses,  and  came  up  towards  the 
Goal,  huzzaing  and  Swinging  their  Clubbs. 

The  Officers  ordered  the  Guard  to  face  them,  and 
when  they  came  within  ten  yards,  the  Soldiers  were 
Ordered  to  present  and  Cock,  their  firelocks,  which 
were  charged  with  powder  &  ball. 

The  Multitude  drove  on,  till  they  came  within  reach 
of  the  Guard,  &  Struck  them  with  their  Clubbs,  and 
the  Guard  (liaving  no  orders  to  fire)  returned  the  blows 


404  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

with  their  GUDS,  and  Some  were  wounded  on  both 
sides,  but  none  Killed.  —  The  Multitude  broke  the 
ranks  of  the  Soldiers,  and  pressed  on  to  the  prison 
door,  where  the  Sheriff  Stood  with  a  drawn  Sword, 
and  kept  them  off,  till  they  gave  him  Several  blows, 
and  forced  him  out  from  thence.  They  then,  with 
Axes  and  other  Instruments,  broke  Open  the  Prison 
door,  and  took  out  the  two  prisoners,  As  also  one  other 
Prisoner,  that  was  Confined  for  Debt,  and  went  away; 
The  Rioters  Said  that,  if  they  had  Staid  till  the  next 
day,  they  Should  have  had  three  or  four  times  that 
Number,  to  their  assistance. 

The  Sheriff,  with  the  Justices  of  Peace  present  at 

the  Said  Last  Riot,  made  a  Record  thereof, 

Gen   state  &  upon  their  own  View,  against  the  above 


R*f  mentioned  Amos  Robards  &  fifty  one  others 

ord  in  bundle  J  J   • 

by  Name,  Inhabitants  of  Essex  County,  and 
Six  others  by  name,  Inhabitants  of  Morris  County, 
and  others  to  them  unknown,  to  the  Number  of  three 
hundred  persons,  at  the  Least. 

The  Governor  having  received  proper  information  of 
the  said  Last  Riot  Communicated  the  Same  to  His 
Majestys  Council,  who  were  of  Oppinion  the  Aid  of 
the  Legislature  was  necessary,  to  put  an  Effectual 
Stop  to  so  Dangerous  an  Evil,  and  therefore  Advised 
him  to  Lay  the  matter  before  them  for  that  purpose. 

1745.  Feb  17th  in  the  News  Paper,  Called  The  New 

the  post-boy  York  weekly  Post  Boy,  a  paper  is  printed 

offeb.  w."     as  from  the  Rioters  declaring  the  occasion 

1745.    a  Copy      ,         .      ,,  .,.       .,  ,  ,  _..     .c 

thereof  is     (as  is  there  said)  of  these  Riots. 

herewith 

1745.  March  4'!1  His  \Excellency  the  Governor  made 
printed  Mm-  a  Speech  to  iihe  assembly  (the  former  hav- 
J^SN?  t^ere-  ing  been  byhitn  Some  time  before  disolved) 
with  page  e.  in  which  there  is  this  Paragraph 

"His  Majesty's  Attorney  General  will  Lay  before 
"  you  an  Account  of  a  Late  Riot,  or  rather  Insurec- 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  405 

"  tion,  at  Newark;  this  was  a  natural  Consequence  of 
"  one  that  was  Some  time  before  that;  and,  tho'  I  did 
"what,  by  Advice  of  his  Majesty's  Council,  they 
"  Judged,  at  that  time,  Sufficient  to  put  a  Check  to  an 
"  Evil  that  had  too  great  a  probability  of  growing  big- 
"  ger,  and  to  prevent  its  doing  So,  yet  (as  appears)  it  was 
"  without  the  Effect  intended— So  Open  and  avowed 
"an  Attempt,  in  defyance  of  the  Government,  and 
"  Contempt  of  the  Laws,  if  not  high  Treason, — makes 
"So  nigh  approaches  to  it,  as  Seems  but  too  Likely  to 
"end  in  Rebellion,  and  throwing  off  His  Majesty's 
"  Authority,  if  timely  Measures  be  not  taken  to  Check 
"  the  intemperance,  of  a  too  Licentious  Multitude,  I, 
"therefore,  recommend  this  matter  to  your  Most 
"Serious  Consideration. 

1745.  March  ll*?1  The  Assembly  made  an  Address  to 
printed  Min-    ms  Said  Excellency  in  answer  to  his  Said 

utes  N°  2     Speech  in  Which  there  is  a  Clause  in  the  f  ol- 

pagelS     .         .         ^  , 

lowing  Words 

"  The  papers  giving  an  Account  of  the  Riot  at  New- 
"  ark,  and  the  Letters  from  the  Governors  of  New 
"  York,  Boston,  and  Louisbourgh,  are  now  under  our 
"Consideration,  and  we  have  Ordered  a  Bill  to  be 
"brought  into  our  house  for  the  better  Settling  & 
"  Regulating  the  Militia  of  this  Colony  of  New  Jersey, 
"  for  the  repelling  Invasions  &  Suppressing  Insurec- 
"tions  &  Rebellions,  which,  we  hope,  will  be  formed 
"in  Such  a  manner  as  may  Effectually  discourage 
"  things  of  that  Nature,  and  we  Shall  Chearfully  joyn 
"the  other  branches  of  the  Legislature,  in  any  Such 
"  further  measures  as  we  can  Conceive  necessary  for 
"the  more  effectual  Suppressing  and  discouraging  all 
"Such  Dangerous  proceedings,  or  in  any  thing  that 
"may  be  proper  and  necessary  for  Us  to  do  for  the 
"  Security  of  this  Colony,  or  the  Assistance  of  our 
"  Neighbours  if  there  should  be  occasion. 

1746.  April  9l.h  there  was  delivered  to  his  Excellency 


406  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 


a  printed  Governor,  and  to  each  of  the  members 

copy  thereof  of  his  Majesty's  Council  &  of  the  Assembly 
a  Copy  of  a  Publication,  by  the  Council  of 
Proprietors  of  East  New  Jersey,  dated  the  25l.b  day  of 
March  Last,  in  answer  to  the  before  mentioned  paper 
printed  in  the  Weekly  Post  Boy  of  February  17th, 

1746.  April  9l?  The  Council  received  information  that 
tho'  for  Six  years  past,  no  Indian  men  had  lived  near 
Cranberry,  but  Andrew  &  Peter,  and  that  only  two 
Deposition  of  more  had  Lived  for  many  years  before  that, 
James  Biain  wno  both,  for  misdemeanors  by  them  Com- 
mitted, removed  thence  to  Cross  wicks,  yet,  within  a 
few  weeks  before  that  information,  there  were  come 
forty  fighting  men  of  Indians  to  Live  there;  that,  about 
three  weeks  before  that  information,  one  Indian  came 
there  who  had  a  blue  Laced  Coat  on;  which,  it  was 
Said,  he  had  got,  as  a  present  from  the  Governor  of 
Canada,  and  he  Lodged  in  the  Informant's  house  one 
Night;  and  Some  of  the  other  Indians  told  the  Inform- 
ant that  he  was  a  King  of  some  Indians  on  Delaware, 
and  that  he  was  come  to  View  that  place,  and  was  to 
come  and  Settle  there  with  his  Indians,  and  that  they 
expected  they  would  be  about  Three  hundred  Indians 
there,  in  all,  that  the  Neighbours  there  about  were  ex- 
tremely Alarmed,  at  this  Number  of  Indians  Coming 
to  Settle  there,  where  its  Esteemed  impossible  for  such 
a  Number  to  Live,  without  Stealing  or  killing  their 
Neighbours  Creatures. 

That  the  Cause  pretended,  for  Such  a  Number  of 
Indians  coming  to  Live  there,  is,  that  they  are  to  be 
taught  the  Christian  Religion,  by  one  MT  Braniard, 
and  for  that  purpose  they  are  to  build  a  Town,  a 
Church,  and  a  School  house,  upon  the  Land  there  of 
one  John  Falconar,  of  London,  Merchant,  of  which  In- 
formation upon  Oath  a  Copy  was  given  to  one  of  the 
Members  of  the  Assembly,  to  Shew  it  to  the  rest 

Whatever  truth  there  may  be  in  the  pretence  for 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  407 

those  Indians  gathering  together,  in  that  place,  near 
the  very  Center  of  this  Province,  We  know  not,  as 
we  are  well  assured  that  the  said  M'  Braniard  has 
never  made  any  application  to  this  Government,  for 
Leave  to  gather  those  Indians  there,  or  to  give  any 
Notice  to  it  of  Such  design  but  that  information  being 
Compared  with  what  is  Alledged  in  the  publication 
aforesaid  of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  page  6V  Colum 
1  Line  30*  to  461!',  and  8*?  Col:  2*  Line  15<h  to  47l.h,  with 
this,  that  the  Indian,  whom  the  Committee  of  the 
Rioters  procured  to  Sign  those  writings  there  men- 
tioned, We  have  good  information  was  the  same  An- 
drew, the  Indian  Living  near  Cranberry,  who,  till 
within  those  few  weeks,  had  no  Indian  man  Living 
near  him,  other  then  the  said  Indian  Peter,  and  these 
things  being  Compared  with  the  threats  of  the  Rioters 
given  out  at  their  Riot  in  September  1745  Demon- 
strate, that  the  Threat  of  their  having  the  Assistance 
of  a  hundred  Indians,  to  Support  their  pretentious, 
which  was  Esteemed  ridiculous  and  impossible,  for  the 
reasons  before,  is  by  those  means  like  to  become  possi- 
ble, and  as  the  Same  Andrew,  whom  the  Committee 
of  the  Rioters  were  tampering  with  in  February  was 
twelve  Months,  is  the  head  of  them,  and  pretends  to 
give  those  Indians  the  Land  they  are  to  Live  upon,  its 
Submitted  how  probable  it  Seems  that  this  gathering 
of  those  Indians  there  may  be  in  Consequence  of  what 
has  l>een  Concerted  between  the  said  Andrew  and  Said 
Committee,  which  matters,  so  Concerted,  must  prob- 
ably have  been  the  foundation  of  the  threat  aforesaid 
April  15l.h  1746.  An  Act  for  better  Setling  and  Regu- 
printed  sun-  lating  the  Militia  of  the  Colony  of  New  Jer- 
of  Assembly  gey  for  the  Repelling  Invasions  and  Su- 
pressing  Insurections  and  Rebellions  was 
finally  past  by  the  Council  and  Assembly — of  which  a 
Copy  is  herewith — and  tho  a  good  Act,  yet  the  Coun- 
cil conceived,  it  fell  far  Short  of  being  an 
Adequate  remedy  for  the  preventing  for  the 


408  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

future  the  Like  Riots  as  those  two  that  had  then  Late- 
ly been  committed  at  Newark  and  therefore  brought 
in  a  Bill  to  the  Council,  to  Supply  those  deffects, 
which  Bill  was  nearly  in  the  words  of  the  Statute  of 
Great  Britain  of  the  first  of  King  George  against  Riots, 
Expressing  the  Differrence  of  the  Occasion  thereof, 
and,  instead  of  being  perpetual,  as  in  Great  Britain, 
proposed  it  to  be  only  in  force  for  five  years — which 
printed  Mint.  Bill  was  past  by  the  Council,  and  on  the 
of  Assembly.  24t.h  of  April  1746  Sent  down  to  the  Assem- 
bly for  their  Concurrence 

1746.  April  17*."  was  brought  into  and  Read  in  the 

Minutes  of    Assembly  a  Petition  dated  March  12t.h  1745-6 

Assembly  NO.  gaid  to  be  by  the  Petitioners  Subscribing, 

2.  page  22  &  87    .     ,      ,.,.  ,    .     „       ,,        TVT      .LI  /•  .LI    • 

inhabiting  chiefly  the  Northern  parts  of  this 
Province  of  New  Jersey  with  great  Numbers  of  Names 
Sowed  &  pasted  to  it,  which  had  been  subscribed  to 
Some  other  writings,  as  Evidently  appears  by  some  of 
the  Latter  words  thereof  Still  remaining;  but  what 
these  other  writing  were,  to  which  the  Names  were 
Signed,  appears  not,  and  Multitudes  of  those  Names 
are  of  one  person's  hand  writing. 

At  Same  time,  was  brought  into  the  Assembly,  and 
read,  another  petition,  Signed  by  eight  persons,  Stiling 
themselves  to  have  been  chosen,  by  a  great  Number  of 
the  Inhabitants  of  the  Northern  part  of  this  Province, 
a  Committee,  to  represent  and  Act  for  them,  in  Such 
Negotiations  as  might  be  thought  proper  &c: 

That  John  Lowe  Esql",  one  of  the  Members  of  the 
Assembly,  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  the  Rioters, 
and  acted  as  such,  both  before,  and  after,  the  said 
time;  by  Sundry  papers  herewith  will  Appear 

1746  April  26  The  said  two  Petitions  were  read  a 
printed  Mm  Second  time,  upon  which  occasion  M'  Sam- 
s' 2.  page  8i  Uel  Nevill  one  of  the  Members  of  the  Assem- 
M'  Neviii's '  bly,  and  one  of  the  General  Proprietors  both 

speeches     of  ^he  Eas^ern  an(j  Western  Divisions  of 


1746]        ADMINISTRATION    OF    PKKHKKNT    HAMILTON.  409 

printed  in  the  New  Jersey,  Spoke  to  them,  and  answered 
New  York  them  paragraph  by  paragraph,  a  printed 

10"-  &  36"  Copy  of  whose  Speech  is  herewith,  Including 
1746.  herewith  tne  ^ft  two  Petitions  Verbatim,  in  the  body 
thereof 

Upon  which  petitions,  and  W  NevilTs  Speeches  in 
Answer  to  them,  We  beg  Leave  to  Remark  that  the 
first  of  these  Petitions  has  these  words 

"  For  which  reason  We  humbly  and  Earnestly  beg 
4«»  column  of  (having  our  Eyes  to  the  Legislative  Powers, 
postboy  of  "from  and  by  whom,  our  Rights  Propertys 
"and  Priviledges  have  their  rise  &  Sup- 
port &c: 

Upon  which  Mr  Nevill,  in  answer,  observed  thereon 
the  Danger  of  Such  an  Attribute,  to  any  Under  his 
Majesty,  and  the  Necessity  of  a  Censure  thereof  by 
the  Assembly;  &,  near  the  end  of  his  Speech  on  the 
Second  Petition,  insists  on  that,  as  a  reason  for  the 
rejecting  both  petitions. 

The  first  Petition  has,  also  these  Words. 

"And,  in  the  meantime,  that  all  our  past  miscon- 
"  duct  (if  Such)  and  intemperate  Zeal,  we  have  any  of 
"us  been  Guilty  of,  may  pass  away,  Under  an  Act  of 
"  Indemnity  &c:  In  Answer  to  which  Mr  Nevil 

declared  there,  he  Should  be  farr  from  opposing  a  par- 
don to  the  Petitioners,  but  Should  rather  promote  it; 
and  at  the  End  of  his  Answer  to  the  Second  Petition 
Concludes  thus: 

"  I  further  move  that  this  Honourable  House  would 
"be  pleased  to  Apply  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 
"either  by  a  Short  address,  or  Message,  as  they  Shall 
"  think  proper,  to  Extend  his  Majesty's  Mercy  to  those 
"people,  by  a  General  pardon,  Under  Such  Restric- 
"  tions,  and  upon  Such  Conditions,  as  to  his  Excellency 
"  Shall  Seem  proper." 

We  also  beg  Leave  herein  to  say  that,  to  our  Knowl- 
edge, in  Expectation  that  the  assembly  would  have 


410  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

made  Such  Address,  or  Sent  Such  a  Message  An  Act  of 
Indemnity  was  prepared,  and  the  form  thereof  approved 
of  by  the  Late  Governor,  by  which,  all  Concerned  in 
the  said  Riots,  without  any  one  Exception,  was  to  be 
pardoned,  upon  their  taking  the  Oaths  to  His  Majesty 
appointed  by  the  Laws  of  New  Jersey,  and  giving  their 
own  Single  Bonds,  without  any  Security  with  them, 
to  be  of  the  good  behaviour,  which,  with  the  said  Bill 
for  preventing  Riots  for  the  future,  Sent  down  to  the 
Assembly  on  the  Z4^  of  April,  it  was  hoped  would, 
intirely,  restore  the  Peace  of  the  Province,  and  Suffi- 
ciently prevent  the  Committing  the  Like  Riots  for  the 
future. 

Minutes  of  But  ^nese  Expectations  were  blasted,  for 
Assembly  N°,  that  1746  April  jJS*.11  it  was  put  to  the  Ques- 
tion in  the  Assembly,  without  any  reply  to 
Mr  Nevills  Said  answers,  whether  the  said  Petitions, 
together  with  the  proposed! s  of  the  said  Committee,  be 
sent  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  in  Council,  accord- 
ing to  the  prayers  of  the  Petitions,  or  not,  &  it  passed 
in  the  Affirmative  (of  which  proposeals  no  mention  is 
made  in  the  minutes  of  the  Assembly,  before  that  day, 
nor  does  it  appear  that,  on  that  Day  they  were  read, 
nor  who  brought  them  into,  or  Offered  them,  to  the 
House,  or  when)  which  papers  were  accordingly  deliv- 
ered to  his  Excellency,  with  a  message,  to  the  above 
purpose,  without  any  the  Least  hint  or  request  of  an 
Act  of  Grace,  or  Pardon  for  the  Petitioners. 

And  for  that  on  the  ls.f  of  May  1746,  upon 

Printed     Min-  J  r 

utesof  Assem-  the  Second  Reading  of  the  said  Bill  in  the 
biyN»  a,  page  Assembly,  for  preventing  Tumults  and  riot- 
ous assemblys,  it  was  Ordered  to  Lye  on 
the  Table,  to  be  reconsidered  at  the  next  Session  and 
Ordered  to  be  printed  in  their  Minutes. 

By  which,  all  hopes  of  restoring  the  Peace  of  the 
Province,  and  preserving  it  for  the  future,  during  that 
Session  of  Assembly,  vanished. 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  411 

174:6.  May  2?.  The  Council  rceived  infor- 
ms informa-  Hiation  that  the  infection  of  the  Newark 
uonsiKnedby  Riots  was  Spreading  into  the  Province  of 
New  York,  for  that  one  man  there,  by 
Encouragement  from  the  Rioters,  had,  in  the  month 
past,  purchased  about  one  thousand  Acres  of  L,and 
from  the  Indians,  part  of  a  Tract  of  Land  Granted 
under  the  Seal  of  that  Province  above  forty  years 
agoe,  &  with  Sixteen  Indians  had  Entered  on  it,  and 
girdled  about  three  hundred  trees  of  fine  timber;  that 
that  man  and  others  are  Endeavouring  to  draw  other 
people  in  that  Province  over  into  the  Same  Course, 
Assuiing  them  that  the  Indian  Right  would  be  found 
the  only  Right,  and  that  the  people  of  Newark  had 
agreed  to  Stand  by  one  another,  to  Support  that 
Right,  and  had  a  paper  of  peoples  Names,  who  had 
so  agreed,  and  that  they  need  only  Send  down  their 
Names,  to  be  put  to  that  paper,  and  they  would  Stand 
by  all  Such  persons. 

Affidavits  of  1746.  May  :•#  The  Council  Received 
Ralph  smith  information  that  the  Infection  of  the  Ne\v- 
n  ark  Riots  was  Likewise  Spreading  into  West 
\c/r  Jersey;  for  that  the  people.  Seated  on  that  hun- 
dred thousand  Acre  Tract  in  the  County  of  Hunter- 
don,  belonging  to  those  Proprietors  in  and  about 
LomloD,  Called  the  West  New  Jersey  Society,  within 
a  fortnight  then  Last  past,  had  two  great  meetings,  in 
order  to  Agree  to  Stand  by  one  another  in  defence  of 
their  possessions  against  the  said  Society,  tho  they 
were  Seated  on  those  Lands  by  Lease  for  years  from, 
and  under,  the  said  Society,  that  they  had  agreed  to  a 
paper  for  that  purpose,  and  about  Seventy  had  Signed 
it  at  their  meeting  on  the- 20th  day  of  April,  that  one 
Article  of  the  Paper  was,  that,  if  any  person,  Seated 
on  the  said  Tract,  Should  refuse  to  Sign  that  paper, 
that  he  Should  be,  by  the  rest,  dispossest,  and  his 
Improvement  Sold  by  them,  to  the  lu'ghest  bidder, 


412  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

that  about  ten  or  a  Dozen  of  them  were  observed  to  be 
riding  continually  backwards  and  forwards,  to  and 
from  Newark,  Elizabeth  Town  and  Cohansey,  where 
the  Said  Society  have  other  Lands,  &  its  believed  in 
Order  to  unite  all  in  one  Combination 

May  1746  Mr  Chief  Justice  acquainted  the  Council 
that  His  Excellency  the  Governor  had  Ordered  him  to 
Lay  before  the  Council  the  'said  two  petitions,  pro- 
poseals  and  Message,  for  the  Advice  of  the  Council,  what 
he  Should  do  concerning  them,  and  accordingly  Laid 
the  Same  papers  before  the  Council  for  that  purpose, 
1746,  May  21s.1  His  Excellency  the  Governor  died,  before 
any  Oppinion  of  the  Council  was  given  on  the  said 
Petitions,  and  proposeals,  and  as  the  Proprietors  of 
East  New-Jersey  were  the  only  persons  who  could 
properly  answer  the  said  Proposeals,  The  Chief  Justice 
communicated  a  Copy  thereof  to  them,  whose  Attor- 
ney has  Lately  Communicated  to  us  what  they  have 
done,  in  pursuance  of  the  said  proposeals,  with  Copys 
in  Writing  as  follows  Vizt 

coppiesof  N°  1.  a  Copy  of  the  Proposeals  of  the 
these  coppies  Rioters  Committee,  Sent  by  the  Assembly 
h  to  the  Late  Governor,  by  which  they  Offer  to 
accept  of  the  proposals  mentioned  in  the  penult  para- 
graph of  Mr  Ogden's  Letter  printed  in  the  Publication 
of  the  Council  of  Proprietors  page  9;  and  by  which 
proposals  they  dony  Notice  of  the  matter  of  that  Para- 
graph. 

N?  2.  is  an  Affidavit  of  a  man  of  unquestionable 
Veracity  that  he  delivered  the  Notice  of  the  Matter  of 
that  paragraph,  to  two  of  the  Rioters  Committee. 

N?  3.  is  "a  Copy  of  a  Letter,  wrote  by  order  of  the 
Council  of  Proprietors  of  June  301!1  1746— Offering  to 
Comply  with  the  said  Proposals  of  the  Rioters  Com- 
mittee. 

N?  4  is  Copy  of  an  Affidavit  of  Service  of  the  said 
Last  Letter,  with  a  Declaration  in  Ejectment,  pursu- 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  413 

• 

ant  to  the  said  proposals  The  Attorney  of  the  Council 
of  Proprietors  declares  that  their  Council  prepared 
their  part  of  a  Special  Verdict,  according  to  the  said 
Letter  of  June  30'.h  That  their  Attorney  attended  the 
first  day  of  August  Term  to  enter  into  the  General 
Rule,  with  Securities  ready  to  be  given  on  their  part, 
but  no  person  came  on  the  part  of  the  Rioters,  where- 
fore, on  that  Day,  imediately  before  rising  of  the 
Court,  the  Action  was  Entered  in  the  Minutes  of  the 
Court,  and  the  Defend1  was  Solemnly  Called,  but  no 
body  appeared  for  the  defend1  of  which  an  Entry  was 
made  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Court. 

N?  5.  was  delivered  the  next  day  by  Nathaniel  Camp 
one  of  the  Rioters  Committee,  to  Elisha  Parker  attor- 
ney for  the  Proprietors,  requesting  them  to  quiet  one 
of  their  Council,  &c. 

N?  6.  is  an  answer  to  the  Last  paper,  giving  reasons 
why  the  Proprietors  could  not  part  with  one  of  their 
three  Council,  &  proposing  the  means  of  Saving  the 
Loss  of  time,  likely  to  ensue  by  the  Rioters  their  not 
Joyning  Issue  in  the  Action  brought  at  their  request; 
at  end  of  this  is  Copy  of  a  Certificate  of  the  Delivery 
thereof  to  Nath1  Camp. 

N?  7.  is  an  Affidavit,  by  the  Attorney  of  the  Pro- 
prietors, that  no  Application  was  made  to  him,  or  any 
of  the  Council  at  Law  of  the  Proprietors,  before 
November  Term  last,  in  pursuance  of  N?  6;  and  that 
during  November  term  Last,  no  motion  was  made  in 
Court  for  having  Council  appointed  by  the  Rioters 
Committee  nor  any  for  them  nor  any  Application  by 
them  to  him  or  any  of  the  Proprietors  Council  ever 
Since  November  Term. 

From  all  which,  its  inferred  that  the  Said  Proposeals 
N?  1  were  intended  by  the  Rioters  to  Amuse  the 
Assembly  and  Late  Governor  and  to  Excuse  them- 
selves for  the  refuseals  of  Complying  with  the  fair 
offers  appearing  by  the  Proprietors  Publication  of 
March  25th  to  have  been  before  made  to  them. 


414  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

The  Late  Governor  Lewis  Morris  Esq-  having  as 
before  mentioned  Departed  this  Life,  on  the  21st  of 
May  1746,  The  Government  of  the  Province  thereby 
devolved  on  John  Hamilton  Esqr  the  Eldest  Councel- 
lor,  and  first  named  in  his  Majestys  Instructions  to  the 
Late  Governor,  who  was  sworn  into  the  Administra- 
tion accordingly.  His  Honnour  the  President  Ap- 
pointed a  meeting  of  the  Assembly  on  the  11th  of  June, 
who  accordingly  met  &  proceeded  upon  business,  &  on 
the  281?1  of  June,  by  Advice  of  His  Majesty's  Council, 
he  made  a  Speech  to  them  wherein  among  other  things 
are  the  following  words 
Printed  Mm-  "There  have  been  two  most  notorious 

N?4.  22.  "  Riots  at  Newark,  in  the  County  of  Essex, 
"where  his  Majestys  Authority  arid  Laws  have  been 
"treated  with  the  greatest  disrespect  and  Contempt, 
"  His  Goal  there  was  twice  broke  open,  and  the  pris- 
"  oners,  therein  Lawfully  detained,  were  taken  out. 
"  and  Carried  away  in  Triumph,  His  Majesty's  known 
"  Officers  beat  and  abused,  in  the  Lawful  Exercise  of 
"their  Offices,  and  this  was  done,  at  one  time,  by 
" '  about  one  hundred  and  Fifty,  at  the  other,  by 
k  k  upwards  of  three  hundred  men,  and  at  both  times, 
"  they  gave  out  that  they,  could  have  twice  the  Num- 
"  bers,  if  they  were  necessary,  and  all  this  was  done 
"for  no  other  reason  but  because  a  man  was  Sued 
"in  a  Common  Action  of  Trespass,  for  cutting  Tim- 
"ber,  on  Some  Lands  that  he  had  a  Claim  to,  and  it 
"was  then,  and  I  am  told  is  now,  given  out,  that 
"  these  people  will  not  Suffer  any  Legal  Process  to  be 
"  Executed,  on  any  man  that  Lives  on  Lands  held  by 
"  an  Indian  Right,  and  boast  that  their  Numbers  are 
"  So  great  that  they  are  not  affraid  of  being  punished 
"for  these  Crimes;  all  the  methods  that  it  was  pru- 
"dent  for  the  Government  to  Use,  have  been  taken, 
"  to  put  a  Stop  to  this  growing  Evil,  and  it  Appears 
"  that  they  have  all  proved  ineffectual,  and  it  has  not 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    1MJ  I-SI  HKNT   HAMILTON'.  415 


in  the  power  of  the  Government,  hitherto,  to 
11  bring  any  of  the  Delinquents  to  Justice;  Upon  this, 
"  I  think  it  my  Duty  to  observe  to  you  that  So  open  & 
"avowed  an  attempt,  to  throw  off  their  dependance 
'  '  on  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  flying  in  the 
"face  of  the  Government,  and  obstructing  the  Course 
"  of  Legal  proceedings,  and  owning  and  avowing  this, 
"  and  boasting  of  their  Numbers  and  Strength,  to  pro- 
"  tect  themselves  against  the  Laws,  is  of  Such  Dan- 
gerous Consequence  to  His  Majesty's  Authority,  in 
"his  Plantations,  that,  unless  we  fall  upon  measures 
"  Effectually  to  punish  it  for  the  time  passed,  and  by 
"  Severe  Laws  to  prevent  things  of  that  nature  for  the 
"time  to  come,  We  shall  have  reason  to  fear  the 
"Resentment  of  His  Majesty  and  a  Brittish  Parlra- 
"  ment,  which  may  be  too  heavy  for  Us  to  bear. 

"  I,  therefore,  in  his  Majesty's  Name,  Recomend  to 
"you  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  Dispatch,  in  Such 
"  Vigorous  measures,  as  may  be  most  conducive  to 
"restore  the  Peace  and  Tranquility  of  the  Province, 
"that  the  Laws  may  have,  again,  their  due  Course, 
"  and  his  Majesty's  Subjects  may  be  again  at  Liberty 
"  to  take  the  Benefit  of  those  Laws. 

Deposition  ^n  ^e  ^  °^  August  174(>  Sundry  persons 
of  Edward  in  the  County  of  Bergen,  being  (as  is 
Suposed)  Encouraged  by  the  aforesaid  Riots 
passing  with  Impunity,  went.  Armed  with  Clubs,  to 
the  House  of  one  Edward  Jefferries,  in  Said  County, 
and  there  threatned  to  Club  him  out  of  possession, 
Unless  he  came  to  Some  Agreement  with  Mr*  Valleau, 
a  person  then  present,  who  pretended  a  Title  to  the 
Lands  on  which  the  said  Jeffers  was  Setled;  and  the 
said  Jeffers  being  apprehensive  they  would  Execute 
their  Threats  against  him,  and  turn  him  and  his 
Family  out  of  Doors,  Consented  to  take  a  Lease  from 
the  said  Mr*  Valleau  for  Two  hundred  Acres  of  the  said 
Land,  tho  he  was  in  possession  of  the  said  Land,  and 


416  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

had  made  Improvements  upon  it,  by  Leave  from  the 
Proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  New  Jersey,  to 
whom  the  Land  belonged. 

Deposition  of  In  the  month  of  September  1746  a  Num- 
Eiisha Parker.  ber  of  persons,  part  of  those  who  are  Com- 
monly Called  the  Newark  Kioters,  in  a  forcible  man- 
ner, turned  out  of  possession  Several  people  that  were 
Setled  on  a  Tract  of  Land  in  the  Said  County  belong- 
ing to  John  Burnet,  and  regularly  vested  in  him  by 
Title  under  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  put  other 
people  in  possession  of  the  places  they  were  Settled 
upon,  for  which  forcible  dispossessing,  Several  of  the 
people  therein  Concerned  were  Indicted  by  the  Grand 
Jury,  at  the  next  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  held  at 
Newark,  in  and  for  Said  County, 
printed  Mm-  ^n  the  9^  day  of  October  His  Honnour 
utes  Ne  4.  the  President  Called  the  Assembly  together 

at  Amboy,  and  the  next  day  Sent  a  message 
to  them  wherein  among  other  things  he  refferrs  them 
to  his  Speech  made  to  them  on  the  said  28"1  day  of 
June,  which  Speech  was,  on  the  Same  day,  read  in  the 
assembly,  and  referred  to  a  Committee  of  the  whole 
house. 

printed  Min»  ^n  the  first  of  November  1740,  The  House 
N°  4,88.  of  Assembly,  without  doing  any  thing  in 
relation  to  the  Riots,  Sent  a  message  to  his  Honnour 
the  President,  Acquainting  him  that  their  house  had 
gone  thro'  all  they  could  conveniently  do,  at  that  time, 
and  therefore  desired  His  Honnour  would  be  pleased 
to  dismiss  them,  which  was  accordingly  done. 
Depositions  of  Some  time  in  June  Last  one  Abraham 
sheriff  &  un-  Anderson  was  arrested  by  the  High  Sheriff 

of  Somerset  County,  by  Virtue  of  a  Writ 
Issued  out  of  the  Supream  Court  of  this  Province,  at 
the  Suit  of  the  Executors  of  Daniel  Coxe  Esq,r  &  for 
want  of  Bail,  was  Lockt  up  in  the  Prison  of  the  said 
County,  and  there  remained  untill  the  Second  day  of 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  417 

Decemb*  following,  on  which  Said  Second  day  of 
December  a  Body  of  men,  to  about  the  Number  of 
one  hundred  (who  chiefly  belonged  to  Newark  in  the 
County  of  Essex,  and  Maidenhead  in  the  County  of 
Hunterdon,  which  two  places  are  about  Fifty  miles 
a  part,  and  both  many  miles  distant  from  the  said 
Prison)  did  come  to,  &  in  a  Violent  manner  break 
open,  the  doors  of  the  said  Prison  (having  first,  in  a 
haughty  and  imperious  manner,  demanded  the  pris- 
oner) and  then  &  there  Set  at  Liberty  the  Said  Abra- 
ham Anderson,  therein  Confined— 

The  greatest  part  of  those  Rioters  came  from  New- 
ark, who  on  their  return  from  Somerset  formed  a 
Design  of  coming  to  Amboy,  to  pull  down  the  house 
Depositions  of  °^  Samuel  Nevill  Esq'  one  of  the  Judges  of 
sami  Neviii  the  Court  of  Common  pleas  for  the  County 
of  Middlesex,  if  the  said  Samuel  Nevill 
Should  refuse  to  deliver  up,  to  Thomas  Clawson,  Cer- 
tain Bonds,  wherein  the  said  Clawson  Hood  bound  to 
the  said  Nevill,  for  the  payment  of  a  Considerable  Sum 
of  Money  due  to  the  said  Nevil,  as  the  Consideration 
for  a  Tract  of  Land  by  him  Conveyed  to  the  said  Claw- 
son,  which  dessign  Some  of  them  were  for  putting  in 
Execution  imediately,  but  others  thought  proper  to 
deffer  it,  till  the  said  Bonds  were  first  demanded  of  Mr 
Nevill,  and  it  was  thereon  agreed  that  the  Demand 
Should  first  be  made,  and  if  Mr  Nevill  refused  to 
deliver  up  the  bonds,  that  their  design  should,  then,  be 
put  in  Execution  And  accordingly  on  Friday  follow- 
ing, being  the  fifth  day  of  December,  the  said  Clawson 
(and  one  other  person  with  him)  did  come  to  the  said 
Mr  Nevill  and  demand  of  him  the  bonds  aforesaid, 
Saying  he  would  have  them  if  he  dyed  for  it 
Minutes  of  On  the  81!1  day  of  December  The  President 

council  Called  together  His  Majesty's  Council,  and 
Laid  before  them  the  information  he  had  received, 
concerning  the  breaking  of  Somerset  Goal,  and  the 


418  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PKESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1746 

Dessign  against  Mr  Nevill,— who  thereupon  advised 
his  Honnour  to  Issue  his  Warrant  to  the  Sheriff  of 
Middlesex,  to  aprehend  the  said  Clawson,  or  any  per- 
sons that  Should  assemble  themselves  to  Execute  their 
threats  against  Mr  Nevill,  and,  if  needfull,  to  raise  the 
Posse  of  the  County,  and  to  arm  &  array  them  in  a 
warlike  manner,  which  Warrant  was  accordingly 
Issued,  and  a  Copy  of  it,  and  of  the  Instructions  for 
Executing  the  Same,  are  herewith 
Minutes  of  His  Honnour  the  President  was  pleased, 
council  at  the  Same  time,  by  advice  of  Council,  to 
Issue  a  Proclamation,  in  his  Majesty's  Name,  forbid- 
ding all  persons  to  Joyn  with  the  said  Rioters,  or  to 
assist,  Council  or  receive  them,  or  any  in  Combination 
with  them,  and  Commanding  the  Sheriffs  of  the  Sev- 
eral Countys  within  the  Province  that,  in  Case  any 
Number  of  men  Should  unlawfully  assemble  them 
Selves,  in  any  of  the  Countys,  to  the  Disturbance  of 
the  Kings  Peace,  that  they  Should  raise  the  Posse  of 
their  respective  Counties,  to  Suppress  Such  Unlawfull 
assembly.— 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  419 


Letter  from  James  Alexander  and  Robert  Hunter 
Morris,  two  of  the  New  Jersey  Council,  to  the 
Lord's  of  Trade — giving  an  account  of  the  Con- 
dition of  the  Province. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F  81.1 

Deer  24  1740 
My  Lords, 

Upon  the  Death  of  Lewis  Morris  Esqr  Late  Governor 
of  New  Jersey,  The  Administration  of  that  Govern- 
ment Devolved  on  John  Hamilton  Esqr  the  Eldest 
Councillor,  who  being  in  a  very  ill  State  of  Health  has 
requested  us  who  are  of  his  Majesty's  Councill  to  Lay 
the  State  and  Condition  of  that  Province  before  your 
Lordships. 

We  therefore  beg  Leave  to  Acquaint  your  Lordships 
That  in  Obedience  to  His  Majesty's  Commands  Signi- 
fied by  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  to  Raise  a 
Body  of  Troops  in  the  Northern  Colonys,  to  Act  in 
Conjunction  with  a  Number  of  his  Majesty's  regular 
forces  against  Canada,  The  President  The  Councill 
and  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  in  June  last  Chearf ully 
made  provision  for  Raising  500  men,  for  Victualling 
them,  and  for  Transporting  them  to  Albany  the  place 
of  Rendezvous — and  Lent  the  Government  £10,000  to 
Enable  the  President  to  furnish  them  with  Arms 
Cloathing  and  other  Necessarys.— 

The  President  upon  this  gave  Warrants  to  Several 
Gentlemen  to  raise  Companys  and  their  diligence  and 
Success  was  Such  that  in  Less  then  three  Months,  the 
whole  five  Companys,  were  Complete,  and  on  the  9l.h 
of  September  Last  arrived  Safe  at  Albany  with  Pro- 
vissions  and  all  other  necessarys,  and  Still  continue 
there  and  have  Since  been  Supply'd  with  Provissious 
Sufficient  to  Last  them  till  the  next  Spring. 


420          ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.          [1746 

[The  internal  Peace  of  the  Province  has  been  greatly 
disturbed  of  Late  by  a  number  of  people  who  have 
Seated  themselves  by  Sufferance  on  Lands  for  which 
they  have  no  title  under  the  Crown  of  Britain  and 
have  Set  up  a  title  to  the  Lands  they  possess  under 
Deeds  procured  from  Indians  without  any  Lycence  for 
that  purpose  from  the  Government. 

These  Indian  purchases  have  been  made  in  direct 
Contradiction  to  the  Eoyal  Instructions  agreed  on  at 
the  Surrender  of  the  Proprietory  Governments  of  that 
Province  to  the  Crown,  and  in  open  Contempt  of  two 
Several  Acts  of  the  Legislation  one  passed  in  E  Jersey 
in  1683,  Declaring  Such  Treatys  with  the  Indians  to 
be  Criminall  &  Seditious,  and  the  other  pass'd  in  1703 
Declaring  them  void  and  Laying  a  Severe  penalty  upon 
all  Concerned  in  making  them. 

This  Pretended  title  these  people  have  taken  upon 
them  to  Support  by  force  and  for  that  puipose  great 
numbers  of  them  have  associated  themselves  together 
and  engaged  to  defend  each  others  possessions  &  to 
hinder  any  Legal  process  from  being  Executed  on  them 
in  Consequence  of  which  Association  they  have  Com- 
mitted Several  great  Eiots,  have  broke  open  the  Goals 
of  the  Countys  of  Essex  and  Somerset  Dispossed 
Several  people  of  their  Lands  and  Committed  many 
other  disorders  to  the  great  disturbance  of  the  Peace 
of  the  Province  and  in  High  Contempt  of  the  Kings 
Authority  and  Laws. 

Two  of  these  Eiots  Happen'd  during  the  Illness  of 
the  Late  Governor  who  was  So  apprehensive  of  the 
Consequences  of  them  that  he  took  all  the  prudent 
Steps  in  his  power  to  put  a  Stop  to  so  great  an  Evil 
And  Eecomended  it  very  strongly  to  two  different 
Assemblys.  but  the  Government  was  too  weak  to 
bring  the  Delinquents  to  Justice,  and  the  Assembly 
declined  doing  anything  Effectually  to  put  a  Stop  to 
So  dangerous  an  Evil  what  motives  influenced  them 


1746]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  421 

not  to  Joyn  in  the  Measures  proposed  to  prevent  the 
Like  Riots  for  the  future  we  dare  not  take  upon  Us  to 
Determine.] 

Your  Lordships  will  receive  with  this  a  State  of  the 
Facts  relating  to  the  Several  Riots  and  other  disturb 
ances  of  the  Peace  of  the  Province  which  will  Let  your 
Lordships  more  fully  into  a  knowledge  of  this  matter 
than  we  can  pretend  to  do  by  a  Letter.  We  have  an- 
nexed to  it  Some  of  the  Vouchers  of  the  facts  therein 
Set  forth,  but  the  Minutes  of  the  Council  &  Assembly 
which  are  the  Chief  Vouchers  We  have  been  only 
.able  to  procure  one  Copy  of  them  in  the  Short  time 
since  the  Presidents  said  request  to  us,  which  we  now 
Transmit  to  His  Grace  The  Duke  of  Newcastle  with  a 
Copy  of  the  said  State,  our  utmost  Endeavours  shall 
be  used  to  provide  other  Copys  for  your  Lordships  to 
go  by  the  next  Ship  which  is  expected  to  sail  in  a  few 
weeks. 

[We  would  only  Observe  to  your  Lordship  that  as 
the  Infection  is  daily  Spreading  it  will  probably  soon 
over  spread  the  whole  Province  of  New  Jersey,  and  get 
into  the  two  Neighbouring  Provinces  of  New  York  and 
Pensilvania  and  may  in  its  Consequence  greatly  affect 
the  Dependance  of  the  plantations  on  the  Crown  of 
Britain  if  timely  Measures  are  not  taken  Effectually 
to  stop  it.] 

The  Officers  of  the  Government  of  New  Jersey  have 
been  without  any  Support  or  Salarys  to  Enable  them 
to  Execute  their  Offices  ever  Since  September  1744  and 
so  they  continue  to  be  which  we  conceive  to  be  Chiefly 
occasioned  by  the  Council  and  Late  Governor's  re- 
fusals to  pass  an  Act  for  making  Current  £40,000 
pounds  in  bills  of  Credit,  which  Act  was  several  times 
past  by  the  Assembly  and  as  often  refused  by  the 
Council  or  Governor  because  they  conceived  it  would 
be  greatly  to  the  Destruction  of  the  Properties  of  the 
People  of  New  Jersey  and  of  all  his  Majesty's  Subjects 


422  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.       [1747 

to  whom  they  are  or  may  be  Indebted  and  because  all 
that  time  the  frauds  and  abuses  of  paper  Money  in  the 
Plantations  were  under  the  Consideration  of  the  Brit- 
tish  Parliament 

We  are  Your  Lordships  Most  Obedient 

and  most  humble  Servants 
JA:  ALEXANDER 
ROB?  H.  MORRIS. 

Right  Honb.le  Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  &  Plan- 
tations 

[Similar  letter,  dated  Dec.  23d,  to  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle, is  in  N.  Y.  Col.  Doc.,  Vol.  VI.  p.  326.] 


Letter  from  Ferdinand  John  Paris  to  James  Alexander. 

[From  Papers  of  F.  J.  Paris  in  the  N.  J.  Historical  Society  Library.] 

Surrj!  Street,  14,  Feb  17,  1746[-F] 

Sir  (Extract) 

On  Tuesday  last  yo?  New  Govr.  (for  the  first  Time, 
for  ab*  5  months,  during  all  which  [time]  the  Matter 
had  layd  quiet)  went  to  the  Secretarys  Office,  &  com- 
plained, of  the  Delay,  given  to  his  Instructions,  for 
that  he  wanted  to  go  over  to  his  Governm1.  as  the  now 
next  Month.  They  told  him,  very  readily,  why  they 
were  stopt,  viz*  for  Non  payment  of  the  Fees,  &  that 
they  wondered  that,  neither  himself  or  his  Agent, 
had,  in  so  great  a  Length  of  Time  ever  been  after 
them.  He  pretended  to  be. greatly  surprised,  at  the 
Cause  of  the  Delay,  and  imediately  deposited  200',  & 
told  them,  they  had  but  to  tell  him,  as  any  Money  was 
wanted,  &  it  should  be  imediately  supplyed.  This 
unexpected  Supply  sett  the  Wheels  into  Motion,  & 
there  being  a  Council  yesterday,  his  Instr'ns  were  then 
approved,  &  signed.  Those  particular  Instructions 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OP  PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  423 

which  You  so  much  insist  upon,  for  the  Benefit  of  the 
Proprietors,  stood  in  the  late  Govr  Morris's  Instruc- 
tions—the 89,  90,  &  91'.'  Instr'ns:  They  stand  now 
Verbatim,  the  84  85  &  86^  in  the  present  Govr  Belcher's 
Instr'ns  *  *  *  *  So  that,  that  part  of  Yor  Affair 
is  quite  over  &  I  shall  trouble  You  no  further,  in 
Respect  of  the  same,  only  to  mention  that  Govr? 
Brother  in  Law  had  been  down,  preaching,  in  York- 
shire, for  nearly  5  Months  past,  where,  I  doubt  not,  he 
had  represented  the  great  Services  done  by  the  Govr 
heretofore,  to  the  Quakers  in  Boston,  of  the  further 
Services,  that  he  was  to  do,  to  the  Quakers  in  New 
Jersey,  &  had,  by  that  Means,  as  it  is  reasonably  be- 
lieved ,  raised  this  Supply;  For  the  said  Agent  came 
back,  from  that  Expedition,  but  last  Saturday  Night, 
&  on  Tuesday  Morning,  the  GovF  took  this  most  unex- 
pected Air,  of  being  so  very  ready  to  pay  the  ffees  for 
his  Commi"  &  Instr'ns,  which  but  a  Week  ago  every 
Officer  would  have  been  extremely  glad  to  have  taken 
half  ffees  for.  *  * 

Mr.  Catherwood  yesterday,  bro1  me  Yor  Favour  of 
the  29th  Decr,  &  a  Packet  from  Yor  Good  Self,  contain* 
Copys  of  the  CouncilPs  letters  to  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle &  Lords  of  Trade,  &  state  of  Facts  &  other 
Papers  abo?  the  Riots  in  New  Jersey. 

If  I  apprehend  the  orders  from  Yo-  Self  &  Mr  Morris 
right,  All  that  I  am  to  do  is,  to  put  the  Ministers  in 
Mind  of  that  Affair,  which,  from  Time  to  Time,  I  will 
do;  but  I  have  already  told  You  that  I  do  not  expect 
there  will  be  leisure  to  consider  Things,  whicli  arise  at 
so  great  a  Distance  from  Us;  And,  if  you  can  help  or 
succour,  yor  Selves,  may  be,  imediately,  without  wait- 
ing for  Relief  from  hence,  which  will  come  very  late, 
if  at  all.  You  have  not,  precisely  pointed  out  what 
Relief  You  hope  for,  from  hence,  Other  than  mention- 
ing, loosely  the  sending  over  Forces  thither;  As  to 
which,  Our  Great  Men  may  possibly  think,  they  can 


424  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

neither  spare  the  Men  or  the  expence,  at  this  Time, 
And  if  that  is  the  Belief  which  You  would  have,  I 
despair  of  obtaining  it,  even  if  I  had  more  express 
Orders  to  sollicit  it.  *  *  *  * 

I  think  I  have  now  answered  every  Part  of  yor  sev- 
eral Letters  which  I  have  reel1  and  remain  with  great 
Respect,  S', 

Your  most  obedient  hble  Serv* 


Proceedings  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey,  March  19<A 

1747. 

[From  Papers  of  James  Alexander  in  Rutherfurd  Collection,  Vol.  I,  No.  4.] 

Att  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  Jersey  March  19th  1746  [1746-7] 

PRESENT. 
The  Honb.le  John  Hamilton  Esq1:  Presid* 

Robert  Hunter  Morris    Edward  Antill ) 

John  Coxe  f 

*       *       •»       #•       * 

His  Honour  Communicated  to  the  Board  a  Letter 
he  Received  this  day  from  Col:  Peter  Schuyler  dated 
9th  Inst.  Acquainting  him  of  the  Number  of  Men  in 


1  FERDINAND  JOHN  PARIS  was  a  lawyer  of  some  eminence  and  great  influence  in 
London.  He  had  been  Agent  of  the  Eastern  Proprietors  for  some  years,  in  which 
capacity  he  gave  great  satisfaction.  In  1734,  when  the  appointment  of  an  Agent 
for  the  Province  was  under  discussion,  he  was  an  applicant  for  the  position,  but  it 
was  given  to  Richard  Partridge,  the  brother  in-law  of  Governor  Belcher,  whom 


1747J       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  425 

the  Several  Companys  under  his  Command  by  Returns 
made  by  the  Cap*'  of  s*  Companys,  which  he  had 
Transmitted  to  his  Honour,  And  appears  to  be  as 
follows  Viz* 

In  Cap*  John  Dagworthy's  Company,  Eighty  five 
private  Men  on  Duty  five  Dead,  Ten  Deserted,  which 
with  the  three  Commissioned  Officers  make  in  all  One 
hundred  and  three. 

In  Cap*  James  Parker's  Company,  Seventy  two  Pri- 
vate Men  on  Duty  one  absent  on  Furloe,  two  in  the 
Fort  at  Albany,  one  discharged,  Six  dead  Sixteen 
Deserted  which  with  the  three  Commissioned  Officers 
makes  in  all  One  hundred  and  one— 

In  Cap1  Nathaniel  Ware's  Company,  Eighty  two 
Private  Men  on  Duty,  two  absent  on  Furloe,  one  Dis- 
charged, three  Dead,  fourteen  Deserted,  which  with 
three  Commission'd  Officers  makes  in  all  one  hundred 
&  five.— 

In  Cap*  Campble  Stevens's  Company  forty  seven  Pri- 
vate Men  on  Duty,  four  Absent  on  Furloe,  five  in  the 
Fort  at  Albany,  twelve  sick,  twenty  five  Deserted 
which  with  the  three  Commissioned  Officers  makes  in 
all  Ninety-Six  Men. 

In  Cap'  Henry  Leonard's  Company,  Eighty -five  Pri- 
vate men  on  Duty — five  Dead,  Ten  Deserted  which 
with  the  three  Commission'd  Officers  makes  in  all  One 
hundred  &  three. 

he  refers  to.  In  a  letter  to  James  Alexander,  under  date  of  January  3 1st,  1731, 
he  said:  "I  could  wish  I  had  sooner  known  of  the  Legislature's  Intention,  and 
had  had  the  benefit  of  an  Acquaintance  or  Correspondence  with  a  larger  Number 
of  the  Council  and  Assembly  than  I  have,  for  then  I  should  have  asked  their 
favour  hi  appointing  myself  to  that  office.  As  it  is,  I  am  promist  the  kind 
recommendation  of  Some  of  my  Friends  in  London,  and  was  offered  a  recom- 
mendac'on,  also  (If  I  could  have  accepted  of  iti  to  the  new  Uovr  (Montgomerie) 
But  as  I  have  often  seen  the  Effects  of  our  Colony's  abroad  appointing  Agents 
recomended  (or  rather  named)  by  their  Gov'r  which  are  that  such  Agents  are 
pay'd  by  the  Country:  but  act  only  for  the  Gov'r.  I  could  not  make  a  Step  so  con- 
trary to  my  Judg'0^  as  to  apply  to  his  £17  For  I  think  a  free  People  ought  to  be 
represented  by  a  free  Agent."  He  was  already  Agent  for  Pennsylvania,  which 
may  have  operated  against  him.  He  continued  to  represent  the  Eastern  Proprie- 
tors till  1750.  His  papers  were  preserved  by  him  in  a  systematic  manner  in  books 
and  juntagM.  and  are  now  in  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society  Library.— ED. 


426  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.        [1747 


Letter  from  David  Ogden  to  President  Hamilton — 
transmitting  affidavits,  respecting  the  Riots. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V.| 

Newark  April  22*  1747 
Sir 

At  the  Request  of  Cheif  Justice  Morris  I  Drew  the 
2.  Inclosed  Affidavits  which  pursuant  to  his  Desire  to 
Me  I  send  you,  the  Last  was  drawn  by  the  Directions 
of  the  2  Deponents  therein  mentioned,  to  whom  I  read 
the  same  twice,  who  approved  thereof,  and  then  Signed 
the  Same.  I  sent  it  by  them  to  Justice  Bonnel,  to 
make  Oath  to  the  Same  which  they  have  done,  this 
day  I  received  the  same  from  Mr  Bonnel,  with  the 
Enclosed  Letter  from  said  2  Deponents  Desiring  me 
to  alter  the  Addition  to  Mr  Cross's  Name  therein  Men- 
tioned, which  I  Dont  think  Proper  to  take  on  me  to  doo, 
after  the  Affidavits  are  Made  And  Signed,  since  Said 
Addition  is  no  ways  material.  I  am  Sorry  Justice 
Bonnel  did  not  alter  the  Same  before  they  Made  Oath. 

It  was  Currently  reported  among  us  the  Begining  of 
Last  week,  that  the  Mob  were  Determined  on  Friday 
last  to  turn  Justice  Daniel  Cooper  out  of  the  Possession 
of  his  House  and  Plantation,  whereupon  Several  of  the 
Officers  of  Morris  County  both  Civil  and  Military,  with 
others,  to  the  number  of  about  100  went  to  the  House 
of  Justice  Cooper  well  armed  with  Guns  &c.  in  Order 
to  meet  the  Rioters.  And  oppose  them  by  force  from 
turning  s?  Cooper  out  of  his  Possession,  the  Mob  or 
Rioters  hearing  of  the  force  Raised  against  them  did 
Not  appear  at  that  Day,  but  some  say  it  won't  be  Long 
before  they  will  turn  Justice  Cooper  and  Many  more, 
out  of  their  Possessions,  which  I  believe  will  be  the 
Case  Unless  Some  Speedy  Care  be  taken  to  prevent 
them. 


1747J       ADMINISTRATION   OP    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  427 

The  Rioters  have  of  Late  given  their  Judgment  in 
favour  of  the  York  title,  Against  all  others,  being  the 
Grant  of  Mr  Sonmans  to  Fanconiee  &  others  which 
may  affect  the  Possession  of  a  Great  number  of  Inhab- 
itants of  Morris  County  if  the  Rioters  Proceed  as  they 
threaten,  to  turn  those  settled  on  'the  Lands  contained 
within  said  Grant  out  of  their  Possessions.  Unless 
they  agree  with  the  Grantee's  of  Sonmans  or  their 
Assigns,  this  Proceeding  of  the  Rioters  seems  at  Pres- 
ent much  to  animate  the  People  of  Morris  County  ag- 
the  Rioters,  and  I  Believe  they  would  in  General  Assist 
the  Authority  in  Suppressing  them. 

I  have  thought  of  the  following  Step  to  be  taken  at 
this  Juncture  viz1.  That  a  special  Warrant  Issue  from 
the  Government,  for  the  Aprehending  those  Persons 
now  in  the  Possession  of  Joseph  Dalrimples  Plantation 
with  an  [Act?]  of  Committment  to  Morris  County  Goal, 
and  also  an  Order  to  the  Sheriff  of  said  County,  to 
Keep  a  Strong  Guard  at  the  Goal,  which  I  hope  will 
have  good  Effect,  not  only  to  stop  further  Riots,  in 
that  County,  but  also  to  Convince  the  Rioters  in  the 
Several  parts  of  this  Province,  that  there  are  Men  in 
the  County  of  Morris  that  Dare  Oppose  them,  which  is 
Submitted  to  the  Consideration  of  you  and  others  con- 
cerned in  Suppressing  those  Rioters,  by 

Your  Most  Humble  Serv? 
DAVID  OGDEX.' 


Province  of  New  Jersey  ss.  Joseph  Dalrimple  of 
Morris  County  in  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  being 
Duely  Sworn  before  me  Joseph  Bonnel  Esq'  Second 

was  a  grandson  of  John  Ogden,  one 
of  the  original  associates  of  Eltza- 
/r  bethtown,  and  the  ancestor  of  sev- 

(/  era!  prominent  men  of  New  Jersey 

in  subsequent  yearn.  At  the  time  under  review  he  was  a  resident  of  Newark,  and 
a  distinguished  practitioner  of  the  Law.  Under  his  guidance  an,i  instruction 
several  eminent  lawyers,  connected  with  matters  of  importance  to  the  Province, 
attained  toeminence  in  their  profession. -Hatfleld's  Klizabeth.  Lamb's  New  York. 


428  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

Justice  of  the  Supream  Court  of  the  Said  Province  of 
New  Jersey  Saith  that  he  for  upwards  of  two  years 
Last  past  has  been  and  Still  is  in  the  Possession  of  a 
tract  of  Land  Lying  in  Morris  County  being  Part  of  a 
Patent  to  William  Dockwra  for  two  thousand  Acres 
Lying  in  Pissiack  River  and  that  Said  Deponent  did 
Settle  on  and  Possess  said  Tract  of  Land  for  said 
Dockwra's  heirs  under  the  Protection  of  the  Council  of 
Proprieters  of  East  New  Jersey,  and  has  Given  his 
Bond  that  he  would  at  any  time  when  Demanded 
yield  and  Deliver  up  Said  Possession  to  the  heirs  of 
said  Dockwra  their  Agents  or  Assigns,  and  this 
Deponent  further  says  that  on  the  Thirtyeth  Day  of 
March  Last  between  the  hours  of  ten  and  Eleven  at 
Night  Some  Persons  unknown  to  this  Deponent  came 
and  knocked  at  the  Door  of  his  house  when  Said 
Deponent  asked  who  was  there,  Some  one  without 
made  answer,  that  his  Name  was  Abraham  Hendricks, 
and  wanted  to  Light  his  pipe,  but  this  Deponent 
having  heard,  that  Some  of  the  Persons  Concern'd  in 
the  Late  Riots  within  this  Province,  in  favour  of 
Indian  Purchases,  and  against  the  Proprieters  Titles 
in  this  Province,  had  threatened  to  come  that  Day  & 
turn  said  Deponent  out  of  his  Possession  of  said  Lands, 
was  fearful!  Least  the  Rioters  were  then  at  Said  De- 
ponents Door,  refused  to  Open  his  Door,  that  Imedi- 
ately  on  Said  Deponents  Ref  useing  to  open  his  Door  he 
heard  the  Voices  of  several  persons,  Demanding  of 
him  to  open  the  Same,  threatning  him  if  he  Did  it  not, 
that  they  would  pull  the  Roof  from  off  his  house,  that 
Said  Deponent  then  told  said  persons  that  he  would 
have  them  be  Carefull  in  what  they  did  Least  they 
Should  Indanger  the  Life  of  his  Wife,  who  was  with 
Child,  and  near  Lying  in,  Some  one  or  more  of  said 
persons,  then  told  said  Deponent  that  he  might  be 
thankfull  because  of  the  Condition  of  his  Wife  which 
was  his  present  protection,  or  words  to  that  effect, 


1747J       ADMINISTRATION   OP    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  429 

that  then  Some  of  S?  persons  tried  with  Some  Instru- 
ments to  push  back  the  Bolt  of  the  said  Door,  But 
finding  that  Ineffectual  they  prised  said  Door  from  off 
its  Hinges,  and  ten  or  more  of  said  persons  came  into 
said  house,  and  ordered  said  Deponent  and  his  Wife  to 
go  out  of  said  House,  with  their  Child,  being  about 
one  year  Old;  that  said  Depon?  and  his  Wife  Refused 
to  go  out,  when  some  of  said  Rioters  said  they  would 
turn  them  out  by  force,  and  one  of  them  took  hold  of 
the  Wife  of  said  Deponent  and  Desired  her  to  Walk 
out  with  him,  when  one  Thomas  Miller,  who  was  with 
said  Deponent  in  his  house  and  not  of  the  Rioters, 
begged  they  would  Consider  the  Condition  of  s?  Depo- 
nents Wife,  and  not  turn  her  out  of  Doors  at  that  time 
of  the  night,  and  this  Deponent  further  saith,  that 
after  a  few  minutes  consideration  said  Rioters  told  him 
and  his  Wife  that  they  might  Live  in  said  house  four- 
teen days  More  and  No  Longer  and  Ordered  said 
Depon*  in  that  time  to  get  another  Dwelling  house  for 
him  and  his  family  and  Leave  said  house,  which  If  he 
did  not  do,  they  would  at  the  end  of  said  fourteen 
days  come  again  and  turn  him  and  family  out  of 
Doors;  whereupon  said  Deponent  replyed  that  he 
would  not  go  out,  'having  Given  Bond  to  Deliver  up 
the  Possession  to  the  Proprietors;  Said  Rioters  then 
Ordered  Said  Deponent  not  to  Use  or  Improve  any 
part  of  Said  Tract  of  Land  for  the  future  And  then 
Justifyed  their  course  of  proceedings  in  turning  per- 
sons Settled  on  Proprietors  titles  out  of  their  posses- 
sions, and  wished  they  had  began  it  Seven  years  past, 
Saying  it  would  have  been  for  the  Benefitt  of  the 
Country,  after  some  other  Discourse  passing,  the  said 
Rioters  went  out  of  the  House  of  said  Deponent  to 
some  others  Standing  without,  when  one  of  said  Riot- 
ers Called  M?  Cross,  and  said  we  Give  you  the  Posses 
sion  of  this  Upper  Lott,  and  to  one  William  or  Mr 
Brested,  take  you  possession  of  the  other  Lott,  after 


430  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [174? 

Saying  which  words,  they  mounted  their  horses  Rode 
away  Huzzaing;  and  this  Deponent  further  Saith,  that 
his  Wife  Ever  Since  the  Terror  and  fright  af ^  has  been 
very  ailing,  and  Indisposed  as  Scarce  Not  to  be  Able 
to  keep  out  of  Bed,  And  this  Deponent  further  saith, 
that  by  what  he  could  Judge  from  seeing  said  Rioters, 
that  their  number  was  about  thirty-five;  of  whom  this 
Deponent  only  knew  Nathaniel  Davis,  James  Hamp- 
ton, and  William  Brested;  And  further  this  Deponent 
Saith  not, 

JOSEPH  DALRIMPLE 

Sworn  this  fourth  day  of  Aprile  Anno  Domi:  1747. 
Before  Me  Joseph  Bonnell 


Province  of  New  Jersey  S?  Thomas  Miller  and 
Thomas  McConnell  of  Baskingridge  in  the  County  of 
Somerset  and  province  of  New  Jersey  being  duly 
Sworn  before  Me  Joseph  Bonnel  Esq.  Second  Justice  of 
the  Supream  Court  of  said  Province  of  New  Jersey  Say 
that  they  are  Well  acquainted  with  a  Tract  of  Land 
where  Joseph  Dalrimple  Lately  Lived,  Scituate  Lying 
and  being  in  the  County  of  Morris,  and  being  Reputed 
to  be  part  of  a  Tract  of  Land  patented  to  William 
Dockwra,  Lying  On  Pissiack  River,  and  that  to  the 
Said  Deponents  knowledge  the  same  Tract  of  Land  has 
for  upwards  of  five  years  Last  past,  before  the  Eighth 
Day  of  April  Instant  been  untill  that  time  possessed 
under  the  proprietors  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  New 
Jersey,  and  the  Deponents  further  say,  that  on  the 
thirtyeth  Day  of  March  Last  past,  Nath'  Davis,  Ja" 
Hampton,  W™  Brested  and  others,  to  these  Deponents 
unknown,  about  ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  Evening  of 
that  day,  came  to  the  then  Dwellinghouse  of  said 
Joseph  Dalrimple  on  said  Tract  of  Land,  with  Clubbs 
and  after  Demanding  of  the  said  Joseph  Dalrimple  to 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PHESIDENT   HAMILTON.  431 

open  the  Door  of  said  house,  and  Using  several  threats, 
some  of  said  Company  broke  open  said  door,  and  some 
of  them  being  about  twelve,  came  into  said  house, 
and  ordered  said  Joseph  and  his  wife  to  go  out  of  said 
house,  which  said  Joseph  then  Refused,  Saying  he  was 
in  possession  of  the  Said  House  and  Land  under  the 
Proprietors  of  East  New  Jersey,  and  that  he  had  given 
his  Bond  to  deliver  up  the  possession  thereof  to  William 
Dockwra's  heirs  or  Assigns;  whereupon  some  of  said 
Rioters  told  said  Joseph  if  he  and  his  wife  would  not 
go  out  they  would  turn  them  out  by  force,  and  at- 
tempted to  turn  them  out  of  Doors,  when  Thomas  Mil- 
ler one  of  said  Deponents,  Desired  of  said  Rioters,  that 
they  would  consider  the  Condition  of  said  Joseph's 
Wife,  who  then  being  pregnant  and  Near  Lying 
in,  And  Not  turn  her  out  of  Doors,  At  that 
[time?]  of  the  night  and  these  Depon1.",  further  say 
that  after  A  few  Minutes  Consideration  some  of 
said  Rioters  told  said  Joseph,  that  he  Might 
tarry  in  said  house  fourteen  Days  Longer  from  that 
time  And  Warned  him  to  go  out  by  that  time,  or  they 
would  then  Come  and  turn  him  and  his  family  out  of 
the  possession  of  said  house  and  Tract  of  Land, — And 
said  Deponent  Tho-  Miller  further  says,  that  some  of 
said  Rioters  Justified  their  proceeding  in  turning  per- 
sons out  of  their  possession  Settled  under  the  pro- 
prief"  and  Wished  they  had  began  it  several  years 
past,  Alledgeing  that  had  they  so  done,  the  Country 
by  that  time  would  have  been  in  good  order  and  said 
Deponents  do  further  say  that  being  at  the  said  Late 
Dwelling  house  of  said  Joseph  Dalrimple,  on  the 
Eighth  Day  of  April  Instant,  when  they  saw  at  said 
house  said  Nath!  Davis,  Ja?  Hampton  and  W™  Breested 
and  others  to  the  number  of  about  thirty  persons  with 
Clubs  who  then  Broke  open  s.d  house  of  s*  Joseph,  and 
turned  s4?  Joseph  his  Wife  and  Child  out  of  his  house, 
and  Likewise  then  Carried  out  of  said  house  all  the 


432  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

Household  Goods  of  s?  Joseph  and  then  said  Nath! 
Davis  who  was  then  Called  the  Cap?  of  s?  Rioters7 
delivered  the  Possession  of  said  house  and  Tract  of 
Land,  to  said  Ja?  Hampton  and  s?  William  Breestead, 
part  thereof  to  s?  James  Hampton  as  Tenant  to  John 
Cross,  Late  A  Prebiterian  Minister  of  Baskingridge 
af!  and  the  other  part  thereof  to  W™  Breestead  in  his 
own  Right;  And  then  Ordered  s'?  Joseph,  not  to  molest 
or  Disturb  said  James  &  William  in  their  Possession;  and 
s*?  Depon1.6  farther  say,  that  they  verily  beleive,  from 
the  Discourse  they  heard  from  said  Riots  and  since, 
that  said  John  Cross  prompted  encouraged  and  re- 
quested s'J  Rioters  to  Committ  said  Riots,  having 
heard  and  believe  that  sc?  Jn°  Cross  treated  &  Rioters 
with  three  Gallons  of  Rum,  When  on  their  way  to 
committ  sc?  Riots,  and  further  say  not 
SWOEN  this  fifteenth  day  THO?  MILLER 

of    April  Anno  Dom.  THO*  M°  CONNELL 

1T47  Before  Me  Joseph 

Bonnel 

SIR.  After  a  due  Consideration  of  our  Information 
to  you,  in  refferaiice  to  the  Mobe  we  allow  all  to  be 
right,  only  them  few  words  relateing  Mr  Cross  (Late 
prisbiterian  Minister  of  Baskingridge)  which  if  it  be 
not  blotted  out,  altho  it  be  truth,  is  a  reproach  to  that 
Sec  of  people  now  amongst  us,  which  we  humbly  re- 
quest to  be  done,  which  will  greatly  Oblidge 
April  the  15th  1747.  Sir.  Your  humble  Servu 

THO?.  MILLER 
THO?  M°C/ONELL 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  433 


Representation  of  the  Lords  of  Trade — respecting  the 
Partridge  Petition  for  liberty  to  issue  Bills  of 
Credit  in  New  Jersey. 

iFrom  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  XV,  page  168.] 

To  the  King's  Most  Excellent  Majesty 

May  it  Please  your  Majesty 

IN  Obedience  to  your  Majesty's  Order  in  Council,  of 
the  7.  of  August  1746,  We  have  had  under  Our  Con- 
sideration the  humble  Petition  of  Richard  Partridge, 
Agent  for  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey  in  America,  set- 
ting forth,  "  That  the  said  Colony  is  greatly  distress'd 
"  for  want  of  a  further  Supply  of  Bills  of  Credit  which 
"the  late  Governor  Morris,  by  the  Royal  Instructions 
"was  prohibited  from  emitting,  without  the  Royal 
"  Licence.  That  now,  in 'time  of  War,  the  said  Colony 
'  *  is  destitute  of  a  sufficient  Supply  of  Arms,  Ammu- 
"nition  &c?  for  their  Defence  against  the  common 
"  Enemy,  and  cannot  readily  raise  the  money  for  pur- 
"  chasing  the  same,  without  a  further  Emission  of 
"Paper  Currency,  as  well  as  for  the  paym'  of  divers 
"  other  publick  Emergencies,  for  support  of  the  said 
"  Government:  That  it  would  be  greatly  for  the  Ser- 
"  vice  of  your  Majesty,  as  also  of  the  said  Province,  if 
4 '  Leave  was  granted  to  the  Governor,  to  give  his  As- 
"  sent  to  the  passing  a  Bill  for  the  emitting  the  sum  of 
"£40,000,  in  publick  Bills  of  Credit,  on  Condition  that 
'  *  the  Value  of  the  Bills  to  be  emitted,  be  agreeable  to 
"  an  Act  of  Parliament,  made  in  the  sixth  Year  of  the 
"  Reign  of  Queen  Anne,  for  ascertaining  the  Rates  of 
"  foreign  Coins  in  America;  The  Petitioner  therefore 
"  prays,  that  your  Majesty  would  be  graciously  pleased 
"to  grant  an  Order  of  Leave  to  the  said  Governor,  or 
"  the  Commander  in  Chief  for  the  time  being,  to  give 
29 


434  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

"  his  Assent  to  the  passing  an  Act  for  emitting  the 
"Sum  of  £40,000  in  Paper  Bills  of  Credit;"  And  hav- 
ing upon  this  Occasion  been  attended  by  the  said 
Petitioner,  We  humbly  take  Leave  to  represent  your 
Majesty, 

That,  in  order  to  prevent  inconveniencies  that  might 
arise,  from  passing  Acts  in  your  Majesty's  Colonies  & 
Plantations  in  America,  for  striking  Bills  of  Credit 
and  issuing  the  same  in  lieu  of  Money,  Instructions 
have  been  given  by  your  Majl.y  from  time  to  time,  to 
the  several  Governors  of  the  said  Colonies  and  Planta- 
tions; directing  them  not  to  give  their  Assent  to,  or 
pass  any  Act  in  their  respective  Governm*8  whereby 
Bills  of  Credit  might  be  struck  or  issued  in  lieu  of 
money,  without  having  a  Clause  inserted  in  such  Act 
declaring  that  the  same  should  not  take  Effect,  until 
approved  and  confirm'd  by  your  Majesty  your  Heirs  or 
Successors. 

That  an  Instruction  to  this  Effect,  was  given  by 
your  Majesty  to  Lewis  Morris  Esq^"  late  Governor  of  the 
Colony  of  New  Jersey,  and  has  been  further  continued 
by  your  Majesty  to  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq^  the  present 
Governor  of  the  said  Colony. 

That  the  said  Petition  sets  forth,  that  the  said  Col- 
ony is  greatly  distress'd  for  want  of  a  further  Supply 
"  of  Bills  of  Credit,  which  the  late  Governor  Morris, 
"by  the  Royal  Instructions  was  prohibited  from  suffer- 
"  ing  to  be  emitted,  without  the  Koyal  Licence,"  which 
is  not  agreeable  to  the  true  intent  and  Meaning  of  the 
said  Instruction,  for  as  much  as  your  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernor is  not  thereby  restrain'd  from  giving  his  Assent 
to  the  passing  any  Act,  upon  any  Emergency,  for 
emitting  such  a  Sum  of  Money  in  Bills  of  Credit,  as  he 
shall  judge  the  Circumstances  of  the  Province  may 
require,  provided  he  take  Care,  that  there  be  a  sus- 
pending Clause  inserted  therein,  to  the  End  that  your 
Majesty  may  judge  of  the  Necessity  of  the  Service,  for 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  435 

which  the  said  Bills  are  emitted,  and  that  there  are 
proper  Funds  settled  in  the  said  Act  for  calling  in  and 
sinking  the  Bills  to  be  thereby  emitted. 

And  as  it  does  not  appear  to  Us  that  the  said  Peti- 
tioner had  any  particular  Authority  or  Instructions 
from  the  Legislature  of  the  Colony  of  New  Jersey  to 
make  such  Application  to  your  Majesty,  and  as  the 
altering  the  Tenor  of  the  said  Instruction  may  be  at- 
tended with  Inconveniencies,  We  see  no  Reason  why 
your  Majesty  should  comply  with  the  prayer  of  the 
said  Petition. 

Which  is  most  humbly  submitted 

MONSON 
J.  PITT 
B.  L.  GOWER 

Whitehall  FRAN  FANE 

April  29.  1747  R.  PLUMER. 


Proceedings  of  the  Council,  May  6th  and  9th,  1747, 
and  Message  of  President  Hamilton  to  the  House 
of  Assembly  of  New  Jersey,  luith  their  ansiver. 

[From  the  Papers  of  James  Alexander  in  Rutherfurd  Collection,  Vol.  III.,  No.  4 

and  No.  20.] 

At  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  Jersey  May  6l.h  K47 

PRESENT 

The  Honb!e  John  Hamilton  Esqr  Presid* 
John  Reading  John  Rodman  ) 
Robert  Hunter  Morris  j 

His  Honour  the  President  Laid  before  the  Board  the 
Draught  of  a  Message  he  Proposed  to  Send  to  the 
House  of  Assembly  &  Desired  their  Advice  upon  it, 
And  the  s?  Message  being  taken  into  Consideration 


436  ADMINISTRATION    OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

the  same  was  Approv'd  of  &  his  Honour  was  Advis'd 
to  Send  it  to  the  Assembly  by  the  Clerk  which  he  did 
&  the  s?  Message  is  in  the  following  Words  Viz* 

Gent,  of  the  Assembly 

His  Majesty's  Service  &  the  Safety  of  the  Province 
made  it  Absolutely  necessary  for  me  to  Call  you 
together  at  this  Time  &  my  own  bad  State  of  Health 
Oblidges  me  to  Meet  you  at  this  Place. 

The  Provisions  Supplyed  to  the  Forces  Raised  in  this 
Province  now  Quarter'd  at  Albany  have  been  for  some 
Time  Expended  &  the  Cloaths  that  were  furnish'd 
them  with  the  money  Lent  the  Government  are.for 
the  most  Part  worn  out  as  You  will  Observe  from  Col: 
Schuylers  Letters  to  me  which  I  have  Ordered  to  be 
Laid  before  You.  •  By  an  Express  from  Col:  Schuyler 
which  Arrived  on  Monday  Last  I  have  Received  Infor- 
mation that  the  five  Jersey  Companys  have  Mutined 
&  taken  a  Resolution  to  Go  off  with  their  Arms  & 
Baggage,  if  they  do  not  Receive  his  Majesty's  Pay  that 
was  Promis'd  them  at  their  Inlistment,  I  have  Ordered 
this  Letter  to  be  Laid  before  you  &  the  two  Officers 
that  Col:  Schuyler  has  Sent  Express  on  this  Occasion 
to  Attend  you  And  by  them  you  will  find  it  next  to 
impossible  to  keep  those  men  longer  together  without 
at  least  some  Part  of  their  Pay. 

As  these  Troops  were  Raised  in  Pursuance  of  his 
Majesty's  Orders  &  have  been  kept  together  to  wait 
his  further  Directions  I  must  Recommend  it  to  you  to 
make  such  Provision  for  the  Paying,  Subsisting  & 
Cloathing  them  as  may  be  necessary  to  keep  them  in 
a  Readyness  to  march  whenever  his  Majesty  shall  think 
it  fit  for  the  Interest  of  his  Dominions  to  Give  Orders 
for  that  Purpose. 

The  Distracted  Slate  of  the  Province,  Occasioned  by 
the  many  great  Riotts,  Oblidges  me  again  to  Call  on 
you,  to  Take  some  Vigorous  Measures,  to  Punish 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  437 

those  daring  Disturbers  of  the  Publick  Peace;  these 
People  have  Grown  strong  and  numerous,  by  Passing 
so  long  with  Impunity;  for  besides  those  two  great 
Riotts  at  Newark,  which  happened  in  the  Late  Gover- 
nor's Life  time,  &  which  were  Recommended  to  you 
by  him,  there  have  been  since,  so  many  bold  &  Daring 
Attempts  made,  to  Throw  off  his  Majesty's  Authority, 
&  their  Dependance  on  the  British  Throne,  that  They 
Call  Loudly  for  the  Severe  Resentment  of  the  Legis- 
lature. 

These  bold  People  have,  in  a  Publick  Manner, 
denyed  his  Majesty's  Title  to  New  Jersey:  they  have 
Refused  to  Pay  Obedience  to  his  Laws,  &  have  Pub- 
lickly  Contemn'd  his  authority;  They  have  broke  open 
his  Goals,  Beat  &  abused  his  Officers  and  Ministers  of 
Justice,  Turned  People  out  of  the  Quiet  Possessions  of 
their  Lands,  and  Putt  others  into  their  Places;  They 
have  Associated  themselves  together,  in  Defyance  of 
the  Government,  have  frequently  met  in  great  Num- 
bers, and  Marched  from  one  Part  of  the  Province  to 
another,  Insolently  giving  out,  that  They  are  so  strong 
&  numerous,  as  not  to  be  afraid  of  any  Force  the  Gov- 
ernment are  able  to  bring  against  them ;  All  the  Steps 
that  it  was  prudent,  &  in  the  Power  of  the  Govern- 
ment, have  been  taken  to  bring  the  Criminals  to  Jus- 
tice, j^Putt  a  Stop  to  so  dangerous  &  growing  an 
Evil;  Wit  these  Measures  have  all  Prov'd  ineffectual, 
and  have  only  Occasion'd  fresh  Riotts  &  Contempts  of 
His  Majesty's  Authority;  in  Consequence  of  which, 
the  Course  of  Common  Justice  has  been  for  some  Time 
at  a  Stand;  These  Matters  are  all  so  Publickly  known, 
that  Particular  Proofs  are  needless;  however  I  have 
Ordered  the  Several  Letters  and  Papers,  relating  to 
those  Disturbances,  to  be  laid  before  you  for  your 
Peru  seal. 

I  must  Observe  to  you,  that  it  is  impossible  to  sup- 
pose Great  Brittain   will  Part  with,   so  Valuable  a 


438  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

Colony  as  New  Jersey;  or  that  his  Majesty  will  Suffer 
his  Authority  &  Laws,  to  be  Trampled  under  Foot,  in 
any  Part  of  his  Dominions,  tho'  ever  so  Remote  from 
his  Royal  Person;  &  the  attempt  to  do  it,  is  certainly 
as  vain,  as  it  is  weak  &  wicked.  If  the  People  of  New 
Jersey  will  not  be  Govern'd  by  the  mildest  of  Laws, 
They,  Themselves  will  thereby  Render  it  necessary  to 
Govern  them  by  Force;  for,  we  Cannot  Suppose  that  a 
British  Parliament  will  Suffer  these  Things  long  to 
Pass  with  Impunity. 

My  Duty  to  his  Majesty,  &  my  Regard  for  the  Safety 
of  the  Province,  Oblidges  me  to  Recommend  this  Mat- 
ter to  your  most  serious  Consideration;  And  as  any 
the  Least  Delay,  in  a  Matter  of  this  Importance,  will 
be  of  dangerous  Consequence,  I  hope  you  will  Proceed 
with  the  Utmost  Dispatch,  in  such  Measures  as  may 
be  most  Conducive,  to  Restore  the  Peace  of  the  Prov- 
ince; and  by  severe  Laws,  prevent  the  like  Disturb- 
ances for  the  Time  to  come.  ***** 

JOHN  HAMILTON. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Perth  Amboy  in  the  Province 
of  New  Jersey,  May  9th,  1747  *  *  * 

His  Honour  the  President  Laid  before  the  Board  a 
Message  from  the  House  of  Assembly  which  he  had 
Receiv'd  by  two  of  their  Members,  and  which  is  in  the 
following  Words— 
May  it  Please  your  Honour 

When  your  Honour  in  June  Last  Recommended  the 
forwarding  the  Expedition  ag*  Canada  it  is  well  known 
to  your  Honour  We  readily  went  into  such  Measures 
in  Complyance  with  his  Majesty's  Pleasure  Signifyed 
to  Us  by  the  Duke  of  Newcastle's  Letter  then, Laid 
before  Us  that  We  not  only  Provided  Provisions  for 
five  hundred  Men  rais'd  in  this  Colony  which  was  all 
his  Majesty  Required  from  the  Province,  but  over  & 
above  gave  a  Bounty  of  Six  Pounds  a  Man  to  each 


1747J       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  430 

Man  so  to  be  Inlisted  to  Incourage  their  Inlistment 
And  at  the  same  Time  We  Pass'd  a  Bill  for  the  making 
Current  ten  thousand  Pounds  to  Enable  your  Honour 
to  Cloath  &  Arm  the  s1?  Forces,  All  of  the  sa.  £10,000 
We  Cannot  Learn  is  yet  Expended. 

This  We  beg  Leave  to  Observe  to  your  Honour  as 
such  a  Mark  of  our  Zeal  for  his  Majesty's  Interest  as 
We  are  not  informed  that  any  of  Our  Neighbouring 
Provinces  have  Gone  into. 

At  that  Time  there  was  nothing  mentioned  in  the 
the  Duke  of  New  Castle's  Letter  nor  by  your  Honour 
Recommended  to  Us  of  Paying  those  Forces  and  this 
House  having  already  Exerted  themselves  to  the  Ut- 
most Ability  of  the  Colony  they  are  in  no  Condition  of 
doing  it  at  present. 

We  are  very  sorry  to  hear  there  is  such  an  Uneasi- 
ness amongst  the  Forces,  but  as  We  are  daily  in  Ex- 
pectation of  hearing  from  home  at  which  Time  We 
make  no  Doubt  but  they  will  Receive  their  Pay  & 
Cloathing  from  his  Majesty  agreeable  to  the  Duke  of 
New  Castle's  Letter  above  mentioned.  And  as  That 
wa!s  the  Condition  on  which  they  Inlisted  into  this  Ex- 
pedition And  as  we  have  now  granted  them  a  third 
Supply  of  all  necessary  Provisions  We  hope  that  They 
will  behave  themselves  like  reasonable  Men  &  Return 
heartily  to  their  Duty  in  his  Majesty's  Service 

As  to  the  Matter  of  those  Riots  lately  Committed  in 
this  Province,  and  Recommended  to  Our  Consideration, 
it  is  with  great  Concern  and  Abhorrence  We  Look 
upon  those  Proceedings,  Esteeming  them  to  be  of  very 
ill  Consequence;  &  shall  willingly  do  Our  Duty  in 
Joyning  with  the  other  Branches  of  the  Legislature, 
for  the  making  proper  Laws  for  Suppressing  such  Pro- 
ceedings, &  discourageing  the  like  for  the  future;  But 
as  the  Doing  Thereof  will  Require  great  Consideration, 
&  more  time  than  we  have  at  present,  being  now  only 
Call'd  as  we  understand,  to  make  some  further  Provi  - 
sion  for  the  Forces,  which  we  have  Chearfully  done. 


440  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

We  hope  those  Riotous  Proceedings  may  not  be  Con- 
tinued; but  if  They  should,  at  Our  next  Meeting  We 
may  have  more  Time  to  Consider  and  Transact  these. 
&  the  other  affairs  of  this  Province:  &  doubt  not,  but 
that  in  the  mean  Time,  Your  Honour  will  take  all  pru- 
dent Measures,  to  Stop  the  Growth  of  those  Proceed- 
ings, &  do  what  shall  be  most  proper  and  needful,  un- 
til the  same  can  be  remedied,  by  some  Act  or  Acts  of 
the  Province. 

And  with  Respect  to  the  Support  of  the  Government 
by  your  Honour's  Message  Recommended  to  Our  Con- 
sideration, We  beg  Leave  to  Say  We  have  done  what 
is  in  the  Power  of  this  House,  that  at  Our  Last  Sitting 
here  on  the  23d  of  October  past  A  Bill  for  the  Support 
of  this  Government  was  Carryed  up  to  the  Council  & 
Delivered  to  the  Speaker  in  Council  for  the  Council's 
Concurrence,  since  which  this  House  has  not  had  any 
Account  or  Information  concerning  the  sd  Bill  &  there- 
fore they  Conceive  that  they  have  done  their  Duty  in 
this  Respect. 

And  as  a  Bill  has  now  Pass'd  this  House  by  the 
Council  to  make  Curr?  £1000  in  Bills  of  Credit  for  tne 
further  Victualling  &  Provideing  for  the  Forces  &c 
The  House  Desires  your  Honour's  Assent  to  the  Same 
And  there  being  no  other  Business  at  present  before 
the  House  They  Pray  your  Honour  to  Dismiss  them. 
By  Order  of  the  House 

THOS  BARTOW  01: 

Upon  which  his  Honour  Desired  to  be  informed 
what  Bills  or  other  Business  was  before  the  Council  as 
a  Branch  of  the  Legislature  And  the  Board  Informed 
him  that  takeing  into  their  Consideration  the  many 
great  Riotts  &  other  Breaches  of  the  Publick  Peace 
They  Thought  it  their  Duty  to  Perfect  some  Law  to 
Prevent  things  of  that  kind  for  the  Time  to  Come  & 
to  that  End  had  Ordered  a  Bill  to  Prevent  Tumults  & 
Riotous  Assemblys  to  be  brought  into  their  House 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  441 

which  was  accordingly  done  &  the  same  had  been 
twice  Read  &  stood  Committed,  that  they  should  have 
gone  through  &  Pass'd  the  s(1  Bill  but  they  found  so 
great  an  Unwillingness  in  the  house  of  Assembly  to 
Proceed  to  any  Business  at  this  Time  but  that  of  make- 
ing  Provision  for  the  Troops  that  they  Judg'd  it  vain 
to  Attempt  any  other. 

And  his  Honour  then  Desired  the  Opinion  of  this 
Board  &  their  Advice  what  was  proper  for  him  to  do 
on  this  Occasion. 

Whereupon  the  Board  Declared  that  they  Look'd 
upon  it  to  be  the  Duty  of  every  Branch  of  the  Legis- 
lature to  Exert  themselves  with  the  utmost  Vigour  to 
Enable  the  Government  to  bring  to  Justice  the  Per- 
sons Concern'd  in  the  Late  Disturbances  &  that  they 
were  willing  &  ready  both  as  a  Council  of  Advice  &  as 
a  Branch  of  the  Legislature  to  do  every  thing  that 
should  be  thought  most  Conducive  to  that  End,  That 
they  were  sorry  that  the  House  of  Assembly  would 
not  Joyn  in  any  Measures  at  this  time  to  Give  a  Check 
to  so  Dangerous  &  Growing  an  Evill,  but  since  they 
were  Determined  not  to  do  any  thing  at  this  time  It 
was  to  no  Purpose  to  keep  them  together  and  there- 
fore Advised  His  Honour  to  Give  them  Leave  to  Ad- 
journ themselves  till  monday  251?1  day  of  this  Inst. 


Letter  from  Governor  Clinton  of  New  York  to  Col. 
tichuyler,  of  the  New  Jersey  Forces. 

I  From  N.  Y.  Col.  Docts..  Vol.  VI,  p,  863.  J 

New  York  6th  May  1747 

Sir, 

I  cannot  forbear  to  let  you  know  that  I  think  you 
have  been  veiy  imprudent  in  taking  the  steps  you  have 
lately  done,  in  offering  full  pay  to  the  men  under  your 
command  without  my  knowledge  or  consulting  with 


442  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

the  other  officers.  For  if  it  was  in  your  power  to  do  it; 
it  can  not  be  proper,  since  in  the  opinion  of  His  Maj- 
esty's Council  of  this  Province  the  retaining  the  great- 
est part  of  the  arrears  due,  till  his  Majesty's  pleasure 
be  known,  is  the  most  effectual  method  at  present  to 
prevent  desertions,  &  on  this  I  have  the  concurrent 
opinion  of  the  President  of  the  Council  of  the  Jerseys 
(as  I  believe)  by  the  advice  of  the  Council  there.  Be- 
sides as  it  impossible  to  pay  all  the  forces  their  whole 
pay  at  this  time,  any  difference  in  the  pay  of  one  part 
from  the  other  must  occasion  disorders  &  mutiny.  I 
must  likewise  tell  you  that  keeping  up  any  kind  of 
distinction  in  the  pay  or  command  must  occasion  con- 
fusion and  disorder,  of  which  you  are  to  take  notice  & 
take  care  to  prevent  any  room  for  complaint.  I  have 
ordered  40s  per  man  to  be  paid  to  each  private  man  of 
the  New  Levies  without  distinction  in  what  Province 
the  levies  were  made,  and  I  have  promised  to  pay 
them  20s  pr  month  till  His  Majesty's  pleasure  be 
known 

As  I  believe  that  what  you  did  proceeded  from  a 
Zeale  to  the  service  without  duly  considering  the 
consequences  of  the  step  you  took,  I  hope  your  future 
conduct  will  convince  me  of  the  truth  of  my  sentiments 
of  you,  and  am,  Sir 

Your  very  humble  Serv* 


To  Coll  Peter  Schuyler  of  the  New  Jersey  Forces. 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION  OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  443 

Order  of  the  I^ords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  upon 
a  Petition  of  Jonathan  Belcher,  appointed  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Jersey— relative  to  his  salary. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F.  88.1 

At  the  Council  Chamber  Whitehall  the  9th  day 

of  May  1747. 

By  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Council  for  Plantation  Affairs. 
His  Majesty  having  been  pleased,  by  his  Order  in 
Council  of  the  17tu  of  last  Month,  to  referr  unto  this 
Committee,  the  humble  Petition  of  Jonathan  Belcher 
Esqr  His  Majestys  Governor  of  Nova  Ceesarea  or  New 
Jersey,  humbly  praying,  in  case  the  Assembly  of  that 
Province  should  not  settle  a  fixed  Salary  on  him  during 
the  whole  time  of  His  Government,  as  directed  by  the 
twenty  Sixth  Article  of  His  Majestys  Instructions  to 
him,  That  His  Majesty  would  be  graciously  pleased  to 
Empower  him  to  give  his  Assent  to  such  Bills  as  shall 
be  annually  passed  by  the  said  Assembly,  for  paying 
him  a  Salary  as  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief, 
in  like  manner  as  His  Majesty  was  pleased  to  give  to 
the  Governor  of  the  Massachusets  Bay  on  a  like  occa  • 
sion.  The  Lords  of  the  Committee  this  day  took  the 
said  Petition  into  their  Consideration,  and  are  hereby 
pleased  to  referr  the  same  (a  Copy  whereof  is  hereunto 
annexed)  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  for  Trade  and 
Plantations,  to  consider  thereof  and  Report  their 
Opinion  thereupon  to  this  Committee. 

TO  THE   KING'S  MOST  EXCELLENT  MAJESTY,  IN  COUNCIL 

THE  HUMBLE   PETITION  of   Jonathan  Belcher 
Esqr  Your  Majestys    Governor    of    Nova 
Caesarea  or  New  Jersey— 
Sheweth, 

That  by  the  19th  Article  of  Your  Majestys  Instruc- 
tions to  Your  Petitioner  he  is  restrained  from  giving 


444  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

his  Assent  to  any  Act  for  payment  of  Money  either  to 
himself  as  Governor  or  Commander  in  Chief  or  to  any 
other  Person  whatsoever  except  to  Your  Majesty  Your 
Heirs  and  Successors  without  a  Clause  be  inserted  in 
such  Act  declaring  that  the  same  shall  not  take  Effect 
untill  the  same  shall  have  been  approved  and  confirmed 
by  Your  majesty  Your  Heirs  or  Successors. 

That  by  the  26th  Article  of  Your  Majestys  said  In- 
structions Your  Petitioner  is  directed  to  propose  unto 
the  Assembly  at  their  first  Meeting  after  his  Arrival 
and  to  use  his  utmost  Endeavour  with  them  that  an 
Act  be  Passed  for  raising  and  settling  a  Publick  Rev- 
enue for  defraying  the  necessary  charge  of  the  Gov- 
ernment and  that  therein  Provision  be  particularly 
made  for  a  competent  Salary  to  Your  Petitioner  as 
Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  for  Supporting  the 
Dignity  of  the  said  Office. 

That  although  Your  Majesty  was  Pleased  to  give  the 
like  Instructions  to  Your  Petitioners  immediate  Pre- 
decessor M^  Morris  Yet  he  was  never  able  to  prevail  on 
the  Assembly  to  settle  any  Salary  upon  him  otherwise 
than  from  Year  to  Year  and  in  that  manner  he  re- 
ceived it  without  inserting  in  the  Act  for  granting  the 
same  a  Clause  to  Suspend  its  taking  effect  till  Your 
Majesty  should  have  approved  the  same. 

That  if  Your  Petitioner  should  be  so  unhappy  in  his 
Endeavours  as  not  to  be  able  to  prevail  with  the  As- 
sembly to  settle  a  Salary  on  him  as  directed  by  the  26th 
Instruction  aforementioned  Your  Petitioner  will  in  that 
Case  as  he  apprehends  be  restrained  by  the  19th  Article 
of  the  Instructions  as  aforementioned  from  reaping 
any  Benefit  from  any  Act  the  Assembly  shall  think 
proper  to  pass  annually  for  his  Support  until  the  said 
Act  shall  have  been  transmitted  to  Your  Majesty  and 
Your  Majestys  Approbation  of  such  Act  declared  and 
signified  thereupon  to  Your  Petitioner  which^  must 
necessarily  protract  a  great  length  of  time  and  Your 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  445 

Petitioner  will  be  by  that  means  left  without  any  Sup- 
port during  all  that  time,  there  being  no  Salary  pay- 
able in  England  to  the  Governor  of  this  Province  he 
Ix-ing  left  dependent  on  the  Will  and  Pleasure  of  the 
Inhabitants  for  such  Allowance  as  they  shall  think 
proper  to  make  him. 

That  Your  Majesty  was  pleased  on  a  like  Occasion 
which  happened  in  the  Province  of  Massachusets  Bay 
to  empower  the  Governor,  in  Case  the  Assembly 
should  not  settle  a  fixed  Salary  on  him  and  his  Succes- 
sors or  at  least  on  him  during  the  whole  of  his  Gov- 
ernment, to  give  his  Assent  to  such  Bill  as  should  be 
annually  passed  for  paying  to  him  such  Salary  as  is 
therein  mentioned,  until  Your  Majestys  Royal  Pleasure 
should  be  Signified  to  the  contrary,  Provided  such  Act 
was  the  first  that  should  be  passed  by  the  Assembly  of 
the  said  Province  before  they  proceeded  upon  the 
other  Business  of  that  Session  wherein  such  Act  should 
be  Proposed  a  Copy  of  which  Instructions  is  hereunto 
annexed 

Wherefore  Your  Petitioner  most  humbly  Prays  that 
Your  Majesty  will,  be  graciously  Pleased  to  grant 
Your  like  Royal  Order  of  leave  to  him.  And  Your 
Pet'  shall  ever  Pray 


446  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 


Letter  from  James  Alexander  and  Robert  Hunter 
Morris,  two  of  the  Council  of  New  Jersey,  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade,  at  the  Request  of  President  Ham- 
ilton. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F92.| 

New  York  May  10th  1747 

The  Eight  Honourable  To  The  Lords  Commis- 
sioners for  Trade  and  forreign  Plantations 
Whitehall 

May  it  please  your  Lordships 

At  the  request  of  John  Hamilton  Esq1:  President  of 
the  Council  &  Commander  in  Chief  of  New  Jersey 
(who  was  disabled  by  his  ill  State  of  health  to  write) 
we  had  the  honour  of  writing  to  your  Lordships  in 
December  Last  by  the  Ship  Oswego  the  State  of  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  with  some  papers  concerning 
it  which  as  that  Vessel  we  hear  is  arrived  we  doubt 
not  are  come  to  your  Lordships  hand. 

At  the  Like  request  and  for  the  same  reason  by  the 
Snow  Prince  William  in  ffebruary  last  we  wrote  to 
your  Lordships  with  coppies  of  what  we  sent  by  former 
and  with  Coppies  of  all  the  Minutes  of  the  Council  & 
assembly  from  the  time  that  coppies  thereof  had  before 
been  sent. 

At  the  like  request  &  for  the  same  reason  we  are 
now  sorry  to  acquaint  your  Lordships  that  the  inter- 
nal disorders  of  New  Jersey  are  daily  encreasing  with 
the  Number  of  Rioters  &  Riots  and  that  the  course  of 
Justice  is  at  a  stand,  That  the  General  Assembly  is 
once  more  called  &  mett  Chiefly  to  see  if  they  will  as 
yet  Join  in  proper  measures  to  put  a  check  to  those 
disorders. 


1747J       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  447 

We  ID  close  herewith  to  your  Lordships  Coppies  of 
the  Minutes  of  Council  since  the  Last  Sent  (by  which 
&  what  we  formerly  wrote  is  approved  of)  with  the 
Presidents  speech  to  the  Assembly  &  some  other 
papers  showing  the  Continuance  &  Growth  of  the  dis- 
orders We  are 

May  it  please  your  Lordships 

Your  Lordships 

Most  Obedient  &  Most  humble  Servants 

JA.  ALEXANDER 
ROBTT  H.   MORRIS 

[On  the  23d  May  they  wrote  again  at  the  request  of 
the  President,  sending  duplicates  of  the  documents 
transmitted.] 


Letter  from  President  Hamilton  to    Colonel   Peter 
Schuyler,  commanding  the  New  Jersey  Forces. 

[From  Original  Draft  among  Papers  of  James  Alexander  in  Rutherf urcl  Collection , 

Vol.  I,  No.  4.1 

To  Coll.  Schuyler  Commander  of  the  Forces  [of 
New  Jersey]  at  Albany 

[Perth  Amboy  May  11th  1747.] 

Sir, 

I  have  yours  by  Cap"  Dagworthy  &  Leonard  of  the 
30l.h  of  April  and  am  Exceedingly  sorry  to  hear  of  the 
General  Mutiny  of  the  Troops  under  your  Command 
&  more  so  that  they  have  any  Reason  for  it.  I  am 
Concerned  that  it  has  not  been  in  my  Power  to  Com- 
ply with  the  Terms  Proposed  to  them  at  their  Inlist- 
ment,  but  Cannot  blame  myself  on  that  Account.  I 
esteem  their  Pay  Secure  because  they  have  his  Majes- 
ty's Promise  for  it  Signify ed  by  his  Secretary  of  State 


448  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.        [1747 

And  I  hope  they  will  not  do  any  Act  that  may  forfeit 
his  Majesty's  Favour  which  Leaving  their  Station  will 
certainly  be. 

I  approve  your  Zeal  for  his  Majesty's  Service  in 
Endeavouring  to  Prevent  the  Troops  from  Comeingoff 
and  in  Generously  Offering  to  Engage  your  own  pri- 
vate Creditt  to  procure  money  for  the  Pay  of  the  Jer- 
sey Companys,  but  must  Observe  to  you  that  had  they 
Accepted  of  that  money  it  would  in  all  Probability 
have  Occasioned  a  Mutiny  in  all  the  Rest  of  the 
Troops  at  Albany  who  were  not  paid  in  the  same  man- 
ner And  as  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  Procure  money 
Sufficient  in  so  short  a  time  to  Pay  the  Troops  their 
whole  Pay  so  I  think  it  would  be  Prejudicial  to  his 
Majesty's  Service  to  do  so  because  they  would  then  De- 
sert in  great  Numbers  Whereas  their  Receiving  a  Part 
of  their  Arrears  &  a  monthly  Allowance  'till  his  Maj- 
esty's Pleasure  Could  be  known  will  certainly  be  best 
upon  all  accounts  Especially  if  you  Consider  that  they 
are  f  urnish'd  with  Provisions  &  Cloaths  at  the  Expence 
of  the  Province. 

Before  this  Reaches  you,  you  will  Receive  Directions 
from  Govr  Clinton  as  to  the  Pay  of  the  Troops  under 
your  Command  upon  the  same  Terms  on  which  the 
York  &  other  Troops  Quartered  at  Albany  are  to  be 
Paid,  and  as  his  Excellency  has  on  this  Occasion 
Exerted  himself  &  Engaged  his  own  Creditt  to  Pro- 
cure money  Sufficient  to  Advance  40s.  York  money  to 
the  Troops  in  Part  of  their  Arrears  &  20s  p?  month  till 
his  Majesty's  Pleasure  is  known  I  hope  the  Jersey 
Troops  will  Shew  a  good  Example  to  the  other  Forces 
by  Returning  to  their  Duty  &  Accepting  of  what  is 
Offered  them  and  I  must  Recommend  it  to  You  to  Use 
the  Influence  you  have  Deservedly  Acquired  among 
them  to  Induce  them  so  to  Do 

I  Laid  before  the  Assembly,  your  Letter  to  me  & 
Ordered  your  two  Officers  to  Attend  them  &  they  have 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  440 

Given  a  further  Supply  of  Provisions  as  you  will  See 
by  their  Votes  which  I  Send  you  inclos'd 

I  must  also  Inform  you  that  upon  your  Representa- 
tion of  the  Great  Want  the  Men  are  in  of  Shirts  & 
Shoes  I  have  this  day  Ordered  two  Speckled  Shirts  & 
one  Pair  of  Shoes  to  be  made  for  each  of  the  Men 
under  your  Command  &  to  be  Sent  to  You  with  all 
Dispatch  imaginable,  which  You  will  Deliver  to  them 
when  they  Return  to  their  Duty 

I  am  itec. 


Order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council — re- 
ferring to  the  Lords  of  Trad','  a  Petition  of  Jona- 
than Bdchei\  appointed  Governor  of  New  Jersey, 
for  permission  to  be  absent  front  his  Government 
two  or  three  months,  to  visit  New  England. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V.  FSfl.| 

At  the  Council  Chamber  Whitehall  the  19?  of 
— • — *  May  1740. 

|  L  s  (     By  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords 
*-— *  of  the  Committee  of  Council  for  Plan- 
tation affairs— 

His  Majesty  having  been  pleased  by  His  Order  in 
Council  oif  the  161.11  of  last  Month,  to  referr  unto  this 
Committee  the  Memorial  of  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq.  His 
Majestys  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey, 
humbly  praying,  for  the  Reasons  therein  contained, 
that  His  Majesty  will  grant  him  His  Royal  leave  to  be 
absent  for  Two  or  Three  months,  at  such  time  or  times 
as  may  necessarily  require  his  going  to  New  England, 
taking  such  Time  and  Season  as  may  be  the  least 
prejudice  to  His  Majesty's  Service;  And  in  regard  the 
Memorialist  has  no  appointment  from  the  Crown,  and 
30 


450  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

the  Salary  of  the  Province  is  very  slender,  the  Memo- 
rialist further  prays  that  His  Majesty  would  be  gra- 
ciously pleased  to  dispence  with  that  part  of  the  30th 
Article  of  his  Instructions,  which  gives  one  full  moiety 
of  the  Salary  to  the  Lieutenant  Governor  or  Com- 
mander in  Chief  during  the  absence  of  the  Memorialist 
from  his  Government;  The  Lords  of  the  Committee 
this  day  took  the  same  into  their  consideration,  and 
are  hereby  pleased  to  referr  the  said  Memorial  (a  Copy 
whereof  is  hereunto  annexed)  to  the  Lords  Commis- 
sioners for  Trade  and  plantations,  to  consider  the  same, 
and  Report  their  Opinion  thereupon  to  this  Committee. 

W.  SHARPE 


To  the  Kings  most  Excellent  Majesty  in  Council 

The  Memorial  of  Jonathan  Belcher  Esqf  your 
Majestys  Governor  of  the  Province  of  New 
Jersey— 

Humbly  Sheweth 

That  by  the  30th  Article  of  your  Majestys  Instruc- 
tions to  your  Memorialist  it  is  Provided  that  during 
the  Time  he  may  happen  to  be  absent  from  the 
Province  of  New  Jersey  one  full  Moiety  of  the  Salary 
and  of  all  Perquisites  or  Emoluments  of  Government 
whatsoever  shall  be  paid  unto  the  Governor  Lieuten- 
ant Governor  Commander  in  Chief  or  President  of  the 
Council  who  shall  be  resident  upon  the  Place  for  the 
time  being— 

That  as  your  Memorialists  Family  reside  at  Massa- 
chusets  Bay  in  New  England  which  is  about  four  hun- 
dred miles  from  New  Jersey  and  what  little  Fortune 
he  is  possessed  of,  likewise  lies  there,  which  may  upon 
particular  Emergencys  require  his  going  thither — 

Your  Memorialist  therefore  humbly  prays  your 
Majestys  Royal  leave  to  be  absent  for  two  or  three 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT    HAMILTON.  451 

months  at  such  Time  or  Times  as  may  necessarily  re- 
quire his  going  to  New  England,  taking  such  Time 
and  Season  as  may  be  the  least  prejudicial  to  Your 
Majestys  Service,  and  in  regard  Your  Memorialist  has 
no  appointment  from  the  Crown  and  the  Salary  of  the 
Province  is  very  slender  that  your  Majesty  would  be 
graciously  pleased  to  dispence  with  that  part  of  the 
30V1  Article  of  the  said  Instructions  which  gives  one 
full  Moiety  of  the  Salary  to  the  Lieutenant  Governor 
or  Commander  in  Chief  during  the  absence  of  your 
Memorialist  from  his  Government  And  Your  Memo- 
rialist shall  ever  pray  &c? 

J:  BELCHER 


Letter  from  Governor  Clinton  of  New    York  to  the 
Duke  of  Newcastle — about  the  payment  of  troops. 

(From  N.  Y.  Col.  Docte.,  Vol.  VI,  page  &I9.J 

New  York  23  May  1747 

May  it  please  Your  Grace, 

Besides  the  other  reasons  for  my  paying  some  part 
of  the  arrearages  due  to  the  forces  levied  on  the  expe- 
dition designed  against  Canada,  Mr  Schuyler  who  (it  is 
said)  has  a  Commission  from  the  President  of  New 
Jersey  to  Command  the  forces  levied  in  that  govern- 
ment, his  giving  out  that  he  would  pay  the  whole  of  the 
arrearages  due  to  them  under  his  command,  made  it 
absolutely  necessary  to  do  at  least  what  I  have  done. 

As  soon  as  I  heard  of  the  mutinous  disposition 
among  the  forces  at  Albany  I  was  at  the  same  time 
informed  that  Mr  Scuyler  had  given  out  that  he  was 
resolved  to  pay  the  troops  (under  his  command)  the 
whole  of  the  arrearages  due  to  them,  I  informed  the 
Pivsidi  nt  of  Jersey  of  my  resolution  by  the  advice  of 
His  Majesty's  Council  of  this  Province  to  pay  40"  pr 


452  ADMINISTRATION    OF    PKESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

man  in  part  of  what  was  due  to  the  forces  at  Albany 
without  distinction  of  what  Colony  they  belonged  to, 
&  to  continue  to  pay  20s  pr.  man  monthly,  till  such 
time  as  His  Majesty's  pleasure  should  be  signified 
to  me 

I  informed  him  likewise  that  it  was  not  thought 
advisable  to  pay  the  Men  their  whole  pay  at  this  time 
supposeiog  that  money  sufficient  could  be  procured 
for  that  purpose,  which  however  it  is  thought  could 
not  be  obtained,  because  there  would  then  be  no  tie  to 
prevent  their  desertion 

The  President  &  Council  of  the  Jerseys  approved 
of  these  reasons,  &  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr  Scuyler^  of 
which  a  copy  was  inclosed  to  me,  wherein  they  re- 
quired him  to  conform  himself  to  such  directions  as  he 
should  receive  from  me.  Notwithstanding  this  he  has 
paid  the  forces  under  his  command,  the  whole  of  their 
pay,  &  the  officers  of  the  other  forces  there  inform  me 
that  M!'  Scuyler's  paying  the  New  Jersey  troops  in  this 
manner  is  the  principal  reason  why  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  the  other  forces  &  chiefly  those  levied  in  this 
Province  remain  discontented  &  mutinous,  &  refuse  to 
receive  less  than  their  whole  pay. 

Your  Grace  must  likewise  be  sensible  how  contrary 
it  is  to  the  discipline  of  the  army  for  any  Officer  which 
is  in  my  government  (&  undoubtedly  while  there  under 
my  command)  to  act  in  direct  contradiction  to  my  di- 
rections, especially  in  a  matter  of  such  general  con- 
cern, &  likewise  to  the  orders  which  he  had  received 
from  his  own  government. 

This  must  consequently  introduce  confusion,  &  I  am 
informed  speeches  were  given  out  by  his  men  that 
they  would  receive  no  pay  of  the  Governour  of  New 
York,  because  if  they  did  then  they  would  be  under 
his  command,  which  they  were  resolved  not  to  be. 

All  these  things,  with  many  others  of  a  different 
kind,  shew  what  danger  this  Province  may  be  in  from 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  453 

the  artifices  of  a  prevailing  faction  at  this  time,  & 
how  prejudicial  it  may  be  to  his  Majesty's  service 
every  where  in  North  America' 

It  must  weaken  exceedingly  my  administration  if 
this  money  be  paid,  without  Mr  Scuylers  making  ap- 
plication to  me,  with  an  acknowledgment  of  his  fault 
at  least,  &  desiring  my  intercession  in  order  to  obtain  it 
I  must  beg  your  Graces  forgiveness  of  all  faults  on 
account  of  the  hurry  I  am  in. 

I  am  with  the  greatest  respect  My  Lord 
Your  Graces  most  obedient  and 

most  humble  servant 

G  CLINTON 
To  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Newcastle. 


Report  of  the  Lords  of  Trade — on  the  the  Petition  of 
Jonathan  Belcher  referred  to  them,  as  above  On 
the  19  th  of  May. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  No.  15,  Ent:  Book  D,  p.  162.] 

To  the  Right  Hon?e  the  Lords  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  His  Majesty's  most    Hon1?0  Privy 
Council. 
My  Lords, 

Pursuant  to  your  Lordships  Order  of  the  \&*  instant, 
We  have  taken  into  Our  Consideration,  the  Memorial 
of  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq^  His  Majesty's  Governor  of 
the  Province  of  New  Jersey,  "  humbly  praying,  for  the 


1  In  a  postscript  to  a  letter  to  the  Dukp  of  Newcastle,  dated  UOtb  May,  Governor 
Clinton  wrote:  "I  have  this  instant  received  an  expreas  from  Albany  y't  all  the 
,  new  levyes  are  all  up  in  mutiny  for  their  pay  tlio'  they  have  Just  rec'd  the  40s  a 
man.  This  prejudice  the  men  have  imbib'd  from  ye  president  of  ye  Jersyes  troops 
being  paid  is  a  difficulty  not  to  be  surmounted  but  by  acting  In  ye  same  manner. 
This  Col.  Peter  Schuyler  did  on  his  own  account,  contrary  to  my  orders  &  ye 
orders  he  received  from  ye  President  &  Council  of  his  own  government,  and  hopo 
may  suffer  for  it  "  N.  Y.  Col.  Docts.,  Vol.  VI,  p.  851.  and  again  referred  to  it  under 
date  of  July  28d,  Vol.  VI,  p.  857. 


454  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

4 'Reasons  therein  contain'd,  that  his  Majesty  will 
"  grant  him  his  Royal  Leave  to  be  absent  for  two  or 
"three  Months,  at  such  time  or  times  as  may  neces- 
' '  sarily  require  his  going  to  New  England,  taking 
"  such  time  and  Seasons  as  may  be  the  least  Prejudice 
"to  His  Majesty's  Service,  and  in  Regard  the  Memo- 
"  rialist  has  no  Appointment  from  the  Crown*  and  the 
"Salary  of  the  Province  is  very  slender,  the  Memorial- 
"  ist  further  prays  that  His  Majty  would  be  graciously 
"  pleased  to  dispense  with  that  part  of  the  301!1  Article 
"of  His  Instructions,  which  gives  one  full  Moiety  of 
"the  Salary  to  the  Lieutenant  Governor  or  Com- 
"  mander  in  chief,  during  the  Absence  of  the  Memo- 
"  rialist  from  his  Government; " 

Whereupon  We  take  Leave  to  Acquaint  your  Lord- 
ships, 

That  We  are  of  Opinion  that  such  a  general  Leave 
of  Absence  as  is  desired  by  the  said  Memorial,  may  be 
attended  with  inconveniences  to  the  Province,  and 
that  it  will  be  more  reasonable  for  the  GovV  to  apply 
to  His  Majesty  for  a  particular  Licence,  whenever  his 
private  Affairs  May  necessarily  require  his  going  to 
New  England:  We  must  likewise  further  acquaint 
your  Lordships, 

That  in  all  and  every  of  His  Majesty's  Colonies  and 
Plantations  in  America,  Provision  is  made  by  His 
Majtys  Instructions  to  the  respective  Governors  there- 
of, that  when  it  shall  happen,  in  any  Case  whatever 
that  they  shall  be  absent  from  their  Governments,  one 
full  Moiety  of  the  Salary  and  of  all  Perquisites  and 
Emoluments  whatever,  which  would  otherwise  become 
due  unto  them,  shall,  during  the  time  of  their  Absence, 
be  paid  unto  such  Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor, 
Commander  in  Chief,  or  President  of  the  Council,  who 
shall  be  resident  upon  the  Place  for  the  time  being,  in 
order  for  the  Support  of  the  dignity  of  Government, 
which  said  Instruction  appears  to  Us,  to  be  wisely  cal- 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.  455 

culated  for  the  better  carrying  on  of  His  Ma]1?1  Ser- 
vice, and  to  be  a  just  and  reasonable  Provision,  for  as 
much  as  without  such  Allowance,  the  Person  upon 
whom  the  Gov?  would  devolve,  in  case  of  the  Absence 
of  the  Governor,  would  be  laid  under  great  Difficulties 
and  Hardships,  and  Administration  become  burthen- 
some  and  expensive;  We  cannot  therefore  recommend 
to  your  Lordships  to  advise  His  Majly  to  comply  with 
the  Prayer  of  the  Sd  Memorial.  We  are  &c. 
Dupplin  Monson 

R  Plumer  B.  L.  Gower 

Whitehall  Fran.  Fane 

May  28.  1747 


List  of  Rioters  in  Somerset  and  Middlesex  Counties, 

1747. 

[From  Papers  of  James  Alexander  In  N.  J.  Hist.  Society  Library,  Vol.  1.1 

Persons  Indicted  for  a  Riot  in  Somersett  County 
Quarter  Sessions  and  Removed  into  the  Sup"  Court 
May  term  1747 

Edmond  Bainbridge        John  Anderson  (Clerk) 
Samuel  Price  John  Bunbridge  Juhr 

List  of  Rioters  in  Middlesex  County  Returned 
upon  a  Record  of  View  filed  in  the  Supream 
Court  in  Augf  Term  1747: 

Edmond  Bainbridge        Simon  Wyckoff 

Amos  Roberts  Theophilus  Burwell 

Jacob  Shipman<  Philip  Ike 

Barent  Dewitt  Cornelius  Dehart 

Thomas  Clauson  Dollings  Hegemen  Jim? 

John  Rickie  Israel  Rickie 

John  Jeffers  Cornelius  Johnson 


456  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

Garret  Cornelison  John  Skermerhorne 

-  Bodine  -  Bodine 

Abraham  Van  winkle      Henry  Hogelandt 
George  Hopper 

with  others  unknown  to  the  Number  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons— 


Judge  NevilVs  Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of  Middlesex 
County  at  Session  of  June, 


[From  Original  Draft  among  Papers  of  James  Alexander  in  Rutherfurd  Collection, 
Vol.  I,  No.  24  J 

Gentlemen  of  the  Grand  Jury, 

The  Law  being  always  desirous  diligently  to  find 
out  the  Truth  in  all  Causes  called  in  Question  in  the 
Courts  of  Judicature,  to  the  End  Impartial  Judgment 
may  be  given,  and  strict  Justice  executed  accordingly, 
hath  in  all  Ages  esteemed  it  to  be  the  best  Method  to 
search  out  this  Truth  by  the  Oaths  of  Honest,  Law- 
ful, and  indifferent  Persons;  and  certainly  That  Man, 
who  doth  profess  God  to  be  his  Creator  by  whom 
alone  he  hopes  for  Salvation,  when  he  doth  solemnly 
swea"r  in  the  Presence  of  that  God  and  his  People,  that 
he  will  present  the  Truth  and  nothing  but  the  Truth 
according  to  his  Knowledge,  in  the  Matter  in  Ques- 
tion as  God  Shall  help  him,  that  is.  as  he  expects  the 
Blessing  of  God  in  this  Life,  and  Eternal  Happiness 
in  the  Life  to  come,  I  say,  certainly  that  Man  will  in 
all  Repects  be  void  of  all  Partiality  and  private  Affec- 
tion; For  an  Oath  is  fitly  termed  a  Holy  Band  or 
Sacred  Tie,  a  Godly  Vow,  and  the  Foundation  and 
Ground  of  Truth:  A  Ceremony  instituted  by  God  him- 
self, wherein  he  is  a  Party,  and  will  see  it  verify'd  or 
Sharply  punished.  Therefore  as  the  Law  doth  rever- 
ently respect  the  Oaths  of  Men,  taketh  her  Intelligence 


1747J       ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  457 

of  Matters  in  Faith  from  them;  and  giveth  such 
Credit  and  Approbation  unto  them  as  to  found  and 
build  her  Judgments  in  most  Cases  of  the  Greatest 
Importance  upon  them.  So  she  has  always  intended 
that  those  Oaths  Shall  be  taken  by  Men  of  Sincerity  of 
Life  and  mature  Judgment.  Men  indifferently  affected 
and  such  as  will  respect  the  Truth  of  their  Knowledge 
and  not  the  Face  of  the  Person;  And  when  an  Indict- 
ment is  found  by  a  Jury  of  Twelve  such  Men,  or  above, 
it  is  called  Billa  Vera,  or  a  Presentment  of  Truth,  I 
think  Gentlemen,  I  need  say  no  more  to  you  of  the 
Sacred  and  Solemn  Obligation  you  now  lie  under;  but 
proceed  in  as  brief  a  Method  as  possible  to  the  Dis- 
charge of  my  Duty  by  Laying  before  you  such  Mat- 
ters as  require  your  immediate  Attendance  and  serious 
Consideration.  You  are  the  Grand  Inquest  for  the 
Body  of  this  County  of  Middlesex,  sworn  to  inquire 
into  all  Crimes  and  Misdemeanours  whatsoever  com- 
mitted within  the  said  County  Capital  or  Not  Capital 
against  God,  the  Kingdom  or  the  County;  And,  here, 
I  must  inform  you  tho'  Capital  Offences  cannot  be 
try'd  by  this  Court  Nevertheless  they  are  the  Subject 
of  your  Enquiry,  nor  can  you,  consistent  with  your 
Oaths,  dispense  with  that  Enquiry  and  the  Indictment 
when  found  must  be  certify'd  in  the  Court  above, 
where  the  Offenders  will  be  tried  and  punish 'd  accord- 
ing to  Law. 

Gentlemen.  A  dangerous  and  terrible  Insurrection 
is  l.-u  dy  begun  and  still  continues  to  gain  ground  in 
this  Province  by  a  great  Number  of  abandon'd 
Wretches,  headed  and  encouraged  by  Men  of  Fortune 
and  great  Estates,  under  Pretension  of  Reforming  the 
Laws,  and  Redressing  Public  Grievances,  who  refuse 
to  submit  any  longer  to  those  just  and  equitable  Laws 
by  which  we  and  our  Forefathers  have  been  hitherto 
governed;  but  in  lieu  thereof  have  Set  up  the  Laws  of 
Violence,  enforced  by  Staves  and  Clubs,  and  call  these 


458  ADMINISTRATION   OF   PRESIDENT  HAMILTON.        [1747 

the  best  and  only  Laws  to  govern  the  Constitution,  as 
will  be  proved  to  you  in  your  Enquiry,  to  the  Great 
Terrour  of  his  Majesty's  Faithful  and  Loyal  Subjects, 
the  Subversion  of  the  King's  Government  and  to  the 
utter  Ruin  and  Destruction  of  the  Province,  if  not 
timely  prevented  by  the  Sword  of  Justice  and  the  Aid 
and  Assistance  of  every  True  and  Sincere  Lover  of 
his  Country,  for  Never  did  the  Natural  111  Will  to  Supe- 
rior Power,  and  the  inbred  Malice  to  Authority,  Shew 
itself  more  or  diffuse  itself  farther  in  New  Jersey  than 
at  present;  and  the  Tumultuous  and  Bloody  Times 
which  Consequently  must  attend  such  Woful  Proceed- 
ings will  soon  convince  any  Man  of  Sense  how  little 
the  Fury  of  a  Mob  is  to  be  depended  npon.  There  is 
no  Grievance  that  any  Subject  of  Great  Britain  can  be 
liable  to  which  the  Law  has  not  prescribed  a  Remedy 
for;  And  it  is  most  certain  That  the  Seeking  Redress 
by  Legal  Methods  is  the  only  sure  Way  of  obtaining 
it;  Any  other  Methods  are  much  more  likely  to  lead  to 
greater  Evils  than  those  complained  of.  To  what  a 
Heighth  of  Wickedness  are  these  People  grown;  all 
Ranks  of  Men  suffer,  they  not  only  threaten  but  have 
even  attempted  the  Lives  of  the  Magistrates,  they 
subvert  the  Established  Laws  and  Set  up  Laws  of  their 
own,  by  the  force  of  which  they  break  open  the  Kings 
Gaols  and  rescue  Prisoners  committed  thither  by  Lsgal 
Processes,  they  have  openly  said  they  will  take  and 
imprison  the  Kings  Officers  and  Loyal  Subjects  by  way 
of  Reprise  if  they  shall  presume  to  do  their  Duty;  Nay 
to  that  daring  and  Surprising  Impudence  are  they  ar- 
rived, as  to  declare,  That  if  they  shall  meet  with  any 
Resistance  from  the  Authority,  they  will  Kill  and  de- 
stroy all  before  them.  But  I  hope  Our  All  is  not  yet  at 
the  Mercy  of  a  Lawless  Rabble  who  have  madly 
clubb'd  to  destroy  their  Country  and  themselves.  Nor 
is  there  any  Fear  of  it,  if  every  good  Subject  will  but 
endeavour  to  do  his  Duty  in  the  Station  assign'd  him, 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  459 

We  are  yet  free  and  I  hope  we  shall  continue  so,  and 
there  can  be  no  greater  Justice  than  that  the  Spoilers 
of  a  Free  People  should  be  spoiled  by  the  Laws.  But 
all  is  owing  to  the  Corruptness  of  the  Times  and  the 
Depravity  of  Mens  Manners  for  when  the  Justices 
shall  be  abused,  reviled  defamed,  threaten'd  and  other- 
wise ill  treated  by  wicked  Men  for  only  doing  the  Duty 
of  their  Office,  and  when  these  Offences  are  com- 
plained of  and  given  in  Charge  to  a  Grand  Jury,  by 
whom  such  Offenders  are  indictable  and  no  Notice  taken 
of  it,  its  no  Wonder  that  from  first  trampling  upon  the 
Authority  they  arrive  at  greater  Heighths  of  Wicked- 
ness and  attempt  the  Subversion  of  a  Country.  Some- 
thing of  this  kind  will  be  laid  before  you,  and  which  I 
likewise  give  you  in  Charge,  even  as  I  am  informed 
no  less  a  Crime  than  threatning  to  beat  a  Magistrate 
if  he  gave  a  Cause  against  him,  this  is  a  Misdemeanour 
enquirable  &  indictable  by  you.  I  doubt  not,  Gentle- 
men, when  you  seriously  consider  what  has  been  said 
to  you,  and  what  has  been  read  to  you,  and  the  Mat- 
ters of  Fact  which  will  be  laid  before  you,  but  you  will 
do  your  Duty  and  discharge  your  Consciences  like  Hon- 
est Men. 

Gentlemen,  On  Friday  last  these  Rioters  to  the  Num- 
ber of  Two  Hundred  and  upwards,  entered  on  Horse- 
back into  the  City  of  Perth  Amboy,  One  of  the  Capi- 
tal Cities  of  the  Province,  armed  with  Clubs 'and  Staves 
to  the  great  Terrour  of  the  Inhabitants,  and  being 
alighted  a  Party  of  them  upwards  of  a  Hundred  in 
Number,  marched  on  Foot  in  a  Warlike  Manner  to  the 
Kings  Gaol,  where  the  Magistrates  both  of  the  City 
and  County,  the  High  Sheriff  and  his  Deputy,  and  the 
Constable  were  met  together  in  order  to  keep  the  Pub- 
lick  Peace;  the  Proclamation  ordered  by  Law  for  Dis- 
persing Rioters  was  read,  and  the  Sheriff  in  a  Civil 
Manner  forwarned  them  from  Breaking  open  the  Gaol 
but  all  this  Authority  was  treated  with  Scorn  and  Deri- 


460  ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.        [1747 

sion,  the  Magistrates  the  Sheriff  &  Peace  officers  were 
assaulted  by  the  Mob  with  Staves  and  Clubs,  the 
Sheriff  himself  knock'd  down  and  so  grievously 
wounded,  that  it  was  at  first  questioned  whether  he 
would  survive  it,  the  Gaol  was  broke  in  the  Presence 
of  the  Magistrates,  who  were  not  able  to  repel  so  great 
a  Force,  three  Doors  were  burst  open  with  an  Iron 
Crow  and  a  Sledge  Hammer  to  get  at  the  Prisoner 
John  Bainbridge,  who  was  thus  violently  set  at  Lib- 
erty by  these  Rebels,  for  such  I  shall  be  able  to  prove 
them  by  and  by;  after  which  by  way  of  Insult  to  the 
Publick  Authority,  they  triumphantly  marched 
through  the  Town  with  Fiddles  playing  before  them 
threatning  Death  and  Destruction  to  all  that  should 
oppose  them.  This  John  Bainbridge  was  committed 
by  the  Authority  of  a  Process  legally  issued  by  the 
King's  Attorney  upon  an  Indictment  found  against 
him  in  the  County  of  Somerset  for  Breaking  open  the 
King's  Gaol  there  and  Eescuinga  Prisoner  legally  com- 
mitted thither.  So  that  the  said  Bainbridge  was  a 
Prisoner  at  the  Suit  of  his  Majesty  arid  not  upon  a 
Dispute  between  Subject  and  Subject;  Gentlemen,  my 
Duty  obliges  me  to  charge  this  Grand  Jury  with  this 
Rebellious  Insurrection,  or  Levying  of  War  against 
the  King;  And  in  this  nice  Point,  I  shall  not  presume 
to  offer  my  own  private  Thoughts  but  lay  before  you 
the  Opinion  of  the  Law  relating  to  these  Processes. 
The  first  Authority  I  shall  offer  to  you  is  Hawkin's 
Pleas  of  the  Crown,  Book  1,  Chap  17.  Title  High 
Treason.  Pobham  121,  122  More  621.  [Other  refer- 
ences in  the  original  are  difficult  to  decipher] 

Now  that  there  was  a  Design  of  Rescuing  Prisoners 
in  general  will  appear  to  you  from  one  of  the  Mob 
coming  up  to  the  Gaol  after  the  Rescue  of  Bainbridge, 
and  inquiring  if  there  were  any  more  Prisoners,  to  re- 
lease, if  there  were  let  them  come  out,  and,  Gentle- 
men, in  Cases  of  this  Nature  the  Act  of  one  is  the  Act 


1747]       ADMINISTRATION   OF    PRESIDENT   HAMILTON.  461 

of  All  and  the  Declaration  of  One  is  the  Declaration  of 
All.  For  they  were  all  near  at  Hand  aiding  and  abet- 
ting this  Man  By  these  Authorities  it  plainly  appears, 
That  both  by  the  Common  Law  and  the  Statute  Law, 
These  Men  are  indictable  for  High  Treason  for  the 
.  .  .  .  Acts  will  be  proved  to  you  by  Evidence 
vi/.  That  they  have  made  an  Insurrection  in  order  to 
redress  pretended  Publick  Grievances;  and  of  their 
own  Authority  have  attempted  with  Force  to  redress 
them;  That  they  have  insolently  invaded  the  Kings 
Prerogative,  by  attempting  to  do  that  by  Private 
Authority  which  he  by  Publick  Justice  ought  to  do, 
and  that  is  plain  by  Rescuing  this  Prisoner  out  of  the 
King's  Gaol  before  he  could  be  brought  to  Justice, 
which  (says  the  Law)  manifestly  tends  to  downright 
Rebellion,  and  all  Rebellion  is  High  Treason;  That  they 
have  attempted  to  revenge  themselves  against  the 
Magistrates  for  Executing  their  offices;  That  they 
have  broke  open  Jaol  with  Design  to  release  Prisoners 
in  General;  That  they  have  in  a  violent  and  Forcible 
Manner  withstood  the  King's  Lawful  Authority,  and 
endeavoured  to  reform  the  Government,  which  is 
Levying  War  against  the  King  and  Rebellion,  and  all 
Rebellion  is  High  Treason.  I  charge  you  therefore 
upon  the  Oath  you  have  taken  ....  these 
and  Misdemeanours.  Pity  is  certainly  a  Noble  and 
Godlike  Attribute;  but  then  Pity  for  yourselves!  Pity 
for  your  Families!  Pity  for  your  Expiring  Laws! 
Pity  for  the  King's  Good  Subjects  wounded,  beat,  and 
abus'd!  And  most  of  All  Pity  for  your  Poor  Distressed 
Country  Miserably  torn  to  Pieces  by  these  Seditious 
Proceedings  ought  to  have  the  Precedence.  Besides 
the  Sacred  Oath  you  [have]  taken  divests  you  of  all 
Favour  and  Affection  as  well  of  all  Hatred  and  Malice, 
which  God  forbid  should  remain  in  any  of  us,  And  I 
do  Solemnly  declare  in  the  Presence  of  God  and  this 
Honourable  Court,  that  tho'  they  have  threaten'd  my 


462         ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.    [174? 

Life  and  Destruction  to  nay  Famiiy,  that  I  have  not  the 
least  Malice  against  any  One  of  them;  and  that  what 
I  have  now  alledg'd  hath  not  proceeded  from  Rancour 
but  the  Duty  of  my  Office,  and  the  pressing  Necessity, 
of  putting  an  End  to  these  dreadful  Beginnings  before 
the  whole  Province  is  involved  in  Ruin  and  Destruc- 
tion. 


Letter  from  John  Reading,  eldest  Councillor  of  New 
Jersey,  to  the  Lords  of  Trade — informing  them  of 
the  death  of  President  Hamilton,  and  of  his  hav- 
ing assumed  the  Government. 

[From  P.  R.  O.  B.  T.,  New  Jersey,  Vol.  V,  F  96.] 

New  Jersey  June  the  25*h  1747 

My  Lords 

On  the  IT*.11  Instant  John  Hamilton  Esq?  late  Presi- 
dent of  his  Majesties  Council  and  Commander  in  Chief 
of  this  Province  departed  this  life  after  a  long  and 
slow  illness  which  for  some  time  before  his  death  ren- 
dered him  unfit  for  the  discharge  of  so  great  a  Trust 
that  had  fallen  upon  him  But  such  was  the  Care  and 
diligence  of  the  Council  on  that  occasion  that  the  Prov- 
ince suffered  no  injury  by  his  illness  Immediatly  after 
his  death  the  Council  met  and  I  being  the  person  first 
named  in  his  Majesties  Instructions  to  the  late  Gover- 
nor they  Swore  me  into  the  Administraion  of  the  Gov- 
ernment I  think  it  my  Duty  to  give  your  Lordships 
this  Information  of  what  has  happened  in  this  Prov- 
ince and  at  the  same  time  beg  leave  to  assure  you  that 
I  shall  endeavour  to  administer  the  Government  truly 
and  faithfully  as  long  as  it  shall  continue  in  my  hands 
and  as  near  as  may  be  agreable  to  the  Royal  Instruc- 
tions It  is  with  concern  that  I  mention  to  your  Lord- 
ships the  internal  disturbances  of  the  Province  but 


1747]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.         463 

shall  not  trouble  you  at  present  with  any  particular 
account  of  those  affairs  which  has  already  been  lay'd 
before  your  Lordships  by  order  of  the  late  President 
and  shall  only  say  that  my  best  endeavours  shall  never 
be  wanting  to  restore  peace  &  tranquility  to  the  Prov- 
ince to  support  and  mentain  his  Majesties  Authority 
and  to  check  to  the  utmost  of  my  Power  the  too  prev- 
alent Spirit  of  faction  now  reigning  in  this  Govern- 
ment 

With  my  next  I  shall  Send  your  Lordships  the  min- 
utes of  the  Council  and  such  other  publick  papers  as 
may  let  you  into  the  State  and  Condition  of  this  Prov- 
ince and  in  the  meantime  beg  leave  to  Subscribe  my 
Self 

My  Lords  Your  Lordships  most 

obedient  &  most  Hum?  Servant 


To  the  Lords  of  Trade  &ca 


Letter  from  John  Deare  to  Chief  Justice  Morris — in- 
forming him  of  the  Riot  at  Perth  Amboy. 

[From  Copy  among  the  Alexander  Papers  in  the  Rutherford  Collection,  Volume 

H,  No.  11.1 

Perth  Amboy  July  18th  1747 
Sir 

A  few  Days  ago  I  wrote  Circular  Letters  to  the  Jus- 
tices Desiring  their  Attendance  here  yesterday  when  I 
had  repeated  Information  the  Rioters  would  Come  & 
Rescue  John  Bainbridge,  Several  of  the  Justices  Came 
&  most  .of  the  Constables,  We  heard  in  the  Morning 
the  Mob  were  Gathering  together  about  Woodbridge 


464         ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.     [1747 

but  according  to  your  Honour's  Advice  it  was  Resolved 
not  to  make  any  Resistance.  About  Eleven  a  Clock 
the  Justices  the  City  Magistrates  &  I  attended  by  my 
Deputies  and  the  constables  went  to  the  Market  House 
&  Walked  thare  till  between  Twelve  and  one  when  a 
mob  of  about  One  hundred  &  fifty,  Armed  with  Great 
Clubs  Came  into  the  Town  on  horse  back.  Rode  by  my 
door,  then  alight,  Tyed  their  Horses  to  Mr  Johnston's 
fence  &  Came  on  foot  up  the  Street  with  Edmond 
Bainbridge,  Simon  Wyckoff  &  one  Amos  Roberts  at 
their  head  and  two  Fiddles  Playing.  We  mett  them 
at  the  Corner  of  the  Court  house  I  asked  their  Busi- 
ness, Commanded  them  to  Disperse,  Read  the  Procla- 
mation, which  they  Suffered  me  to  do  but  when  I  be- 
gan to  Read  the  Writt  by  which  I  had  taken  Bain- 
bridge  I  was  knocked  down  &  have  a  Grievous  Wound 
in  my  head  they  also  Struck  the  Mayor,  broke  one  of 
the  Constable's  head  beat  several  of  the  others  and  then 
violently  with  a  Sledge  and  Iron  Barr  &  a  Hatchet 
broke  open  the  Outward  Door  &  inward  Doors  of  the 
Goal  took  out  the  Prisoner  and  Carried  him  off  Huz- 
zaing. 

Bainbridge  the  Father  &  his  Son  had  (afterwards)  the 
Impudence  Attended  by  a  few  more  to  ride  through 
the  Town  down  to  the  Ferry  &  Cross  the  River  & 
then  went  out  of  town.  After  they  had  broke  the 
Goal  &  as  they  were  Doing  it  I  believe  about  one  hun- 
dred of  them  Came  into  Town  but  the  heads  of  them 
Staid  a  few  of  those  who  came  in  were  known.  After 
they  were  gone  the  Justices  Recorded  the  Riot  Incert- 
ing  the  Names  of  Twenty  one.  This  Sir  is  our  Present 
Condition  of  which  I  thought  it  my  Duty  to  Acquaint 
your  Honour  and  am 

Your  Honour's  Most  obedient  and 

Humble  Servant 

JOHN  DEARE 
The  Honb.le  Robert  Hunter  Morris  Esqf 


1747]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  PHESIDENT  JOHN  READING.          465 


Affidarit*  relating  to  the  Riot  at  Perth  Amboy,  July 
17M,  1747. 

|  Prom  certified  Copies  among  Rutherford  Papers.  James  Alexander's  Collection. 
N.  J.  Papers,  Vol.  ID,  No.  4.] 

MIDDLESEX 

Memorandum  That  on  the  17th  Day  of  July  21".1  Year 
of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Sec- 
ond by  the  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain,  ffrance  & 
Ireland  King  &c  WE  Robert  Hude,  James  Thomson, 
James  Smith,  Thomas  Nevill,  John  Stelle,  Nicholas 
Everson,  Thomas  Gage,  W?  Cheesman  Esqr.8 — Eight 
of  the  Justices  of  our  Lord  the  King  the  Peace  of  our 
said  Lord  the  King  in  the  s*?  County  to  keep  assigned, 
&  John  Deare  Esq.  High  Sheriff  of  the  said  County, 
having  Information  of  a  Riot  intended  to  be  committed 
in  the  City  of  Perth  Amboy,  We  at  the  Request  of 
the  High  Sheriff  af?  together  with  him  the  High  Sher- 
iff af!  did  on  the  Day  af<!  in  our  proper  Persons  go  to 
his  Majestys  Goal  or  Prison  in  the  said  City  of  Perth 
Amboy  in  the  County  afd  and  then  and  there  did  see 
Edmond  Bainbridge,  Simeon  Wyckoffe,  Amos  Rob- 
f/V.s-.  Theophilus  Burrell,  Jacob  Shipman  Philip 
.  .  Barnet  Dewit,  Cornelius  Dehart,  Thomas  Clau 
son.  Doling  liegeman  Jnnr,  John  Riskies,  Richie, 

John  Joffere,  Cornelius  Johnson,  John  Schermerhorne 
Bodinc.  Abraham  Vanwinkle,   Henry 

II<  upland,  George  Bodine  Hopper,  John  Hopper,  and 
other  Malefactors,  &  Disturbers  of  the  Peace,  of  our 
si  Lord  the  King,  to  Us  unknown,  to  the  Xumber  of 
!:><».  armed  \vith  Clubbs,  &  being  so  as  at'1  armed. 
Riotously,  unlawfully  &  at  the  said  Goal,  did  assem- 
ble themselves  together  &  come,  &  the  said  Goal  did 
31 


466          ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.     [174? 

assault,  &  with  Force  &  Violence,  to  Wit,  with  an 
Iron  Barr,  a  Sledge  &  a  Hatchet,  One  Out  Door,  & 
two  Inner  Doors  of  the  s*  Goal  did  break  open,  & 
thereout  did  rescue,  Sett  at  Liberty,  &  carry  away  one 
John  Bainbridge  Junr  to  the  s<?  Goal  legally  committed 
by  proofs  out  of  his  Majestys  Supream  Court  of  Judi- 
cature in  this  Province,  &  other  Harms  to  his  Majes- 
ty's s<?  Goal  in  the  s^  County  of  Middx  Did,  to  the  great 
Disturbance  of  the  Peace  of  our  s'J  Lord  the  King,  to 
the  grievous  Terror  of  his  Majestys  Liege  People,  & 
ag*  the  Form  of  the  Statute  in  that  Case  made  &  pro- 
vid!1,  In  Testimony  whereof  We  have  put  our  Seals  to 
this  present  Record.  Given  at  Perth  Amboy  the  Day 
&  Year  above  Written 

ROBERT  HUDE  (LS) 
JAMES  THOMSON  (LS) 
JOHN  DEARE  JAMES  SMITH  (LS) 
JOHN  NEVILL  (LS) 
JOHN  STELLE  (LS) 
H  EVERSON  (LS) 

THOMAS  GAGE        (LS) 

John  Nevill  one  of  the  Justices  in  the  Record  of 
which  the  Preceeding  is  a  Copy  named  do  Certify  that 
I  have  examined  the  preceeding  Copy  with  the  original 
&  that  it  is  a  true  Copy.  Witness  my  Hand  the  20th  of 
July  174Y.  JOHN  NEVILL. 


RICH?  FITZ  RANDOLPH  being  one  of  the  People  called 
Quakers,  on  his  Solemn  Affirmation  Declares  that  on 
the  17th  Day  of  this  Instant  July  being  informed  of  a 
Riot  intended  to  be  committed  at  Amboy  and  seeing  a 
Number  of  People  Armed  with  Clubbs  come  into  Town 
he  followed  them  to  the  Goal  as  a  Spectator  of  their 
Proceedings  &  saw  them  March  up  to  the  Goal  to  abo1 
(as  he  thinks  the  Number  of  200  when  he  also  Saw 


1747J    ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.         40? 

the  Mayor  Sheriff  &  several  others  of  the  Magistrates 
both  of  the  Town  &  County  amongst  them  &  heard 
the  Sheriff  read  the  Proclam*  Com'anding  them  to  dis- 
perse. Soon  after  which  he  this  Affirment  Saw  one 
among  their  Number  (to  him  unknown)  Strike  the 
Sheriff  with  the  Butt  End  of  his  Clubb  so  that  he 
knocked  him  down,  &  in  a  short  Time  the  Outward 
Door  &  two  inner  Doors  of  the  Prison  were  all  broke 
open,  &  this  Affirment  Saw  one  John  Bainbridge  Jun? 
at  Liberty  out  of  the  s1?  Goal  who  Just  before  had  been 
close  lock'd  up  therein,  And  this  Affirment  further 
Saith  that  Just  after  the  Sheriff  was  knocked  down, 
he  saw  one  Burrill  (being  one  of  the  Rioters)  Menacing 
&  Threatening  the  Mayor  of  the  City,  who  was  then 
among  the  Crowd  endeavouring  to  make  Peace,  And 
also  Saw  s(?  Burrill  lift  up  his  Clubb  &  Strike  at  the 
Mayor,  but  did  not  hit  him,  &  farther  Saith  not 

RICH?  FITZ  RANDOLPH 
Affirmed  this  20tb  of  July  1747  before  me. 

JOHNSTON. 


THE  AFFIDT  of  W1?  Deare  &  Jarrett  Wall  taken  be- 
fore Andrew  Johnston  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Perth 
Amboy. 

THESE  Dep'?  Say  They  have  Seen  John  Bainbridge 
Junr  Since  (as  they  are  informed)  he  was  rescued  out 
of  the  Goal  at  Perth  Amboy  by  a  Number  of  People 
who  broke  open  the  s?  Goal,  »fe  have  talk'd  to  him 
about  that  Affair— That  among  other  Expressions  of 
the  s'!  Bainbridge  they  heard  him  say  &  threaten  thi-.t 
if  any  other  Person  shoa  be  put  in  Goal  on  John  C( 
account  They  wo'!  go  (meaning  as  these  Depon!'  under 
stood,  The  People  that  broke  the  Goal  at  Amboy  wo'i 
go)  &  pull  Coxe's  House  down  abo?  his  Ears  &  oblige 
him  to  walk  before  them  to  the  Goal  &  deliver  the 


468         ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  BEADING.     [174? 

Prisoner  himself,  and  upon  s*  Dears  Saying  M'  Coxe 
wol  have  no  More  Right  than  they  to  deliver  the  Pris- 
oner if  he  was  put  in  at  the  Kings  Suit,  The  s^  Bain- 
bridge  made  Answer  that  then  they  wo*  break  the 
Goal  Doore  open  for  him  and  Oblige  Coxe  to  go  and 
lead  the  Prisoner  out  or  Words  to  that  .Effect,  &  fur- 
ther say  not. 

Sworn  the  SO1."  of  July  1747  W*  DEARE 

before  me  And?  JOHNSTON.  JARRITT  WALL 


ANDREW  KELLY  of  full  Age  being  duly  sworn  on  the 
Holy  Evangelists  Deposeth  &  Saith  that  he  was  pres- 
ent at  the  late  Riot  Committed  at  Amboy  when  the 
Goal  was  broke  open  &  one  John  Bainbridge  a  Pris- 
oner in  s*  Goal  Sett  at  Libty,  that  some  Short  Time  after 
the  said  Riot  was  committed  (on  the  same  Day)  he 
heard  one  of  the  psons  concerned  in  it  Ask  another  of 
his  Company  if  he  had  Seen  Samuel  Nevill  upon  which 
the  other  Answered  no  Damn  him  for  a  Son  of  a  Bitch 
I  wish  I  co*  See  him,  I'd  be  the  Death  of  him,  or  Words 
to  that  Effect,  that  the  Man  that  so  threatened  M" 
Nevills  Life  was  a  Stranger  to  this  Deponen*  but  was 
one  of  the  psons  present  with  a  Clubb  in  his  Hand  at 
the  breaking  the  Goal  as  af ?  &  further  Saith  not 
Sworn  the  20*h  of  July  174[7]  AND?"  KELLY 

before  me    And"?  Johnston. 


MIDDLESEX  S.s.  JAMES  THOMPSON  of  the  Township 
of  Piscataqua  in  the  Col.y  of  Middlx  Maketh  Oath  That 
on  Friday  the  17"1  Day  of  July  He  was  at  the  City  of 
Perth  Amboy,  where  a  great  Number  of  People  were 
met  in  a  riotous  Manner  &  broke  open  the  Goal  there 
&  this  Dep1  further  Saith  that  he  heard  some  Person 


I  74?  I     AmilVISTRATIOX  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN   KKMUNO.          469 

amongst  the  Rabble  to  this  Deport  unknown  express 
himself  to  this  Effect  to  witt  Whow  is  Nevill  God 
Damn  him,  We  will  put  an  End  to  him,  And  farther 
this  Dep*  Saith  not 

Taken  this  18th  Day  of  July  JA?  THOMPSON 

1747  before  me    And?"  Johnston. 

I  do  Certify  that  I  have  exam*  the  three  proceeding 
Copies  with  the  Original  Affidavits  now  in  my  Hands 
&  they  do  each  agree  with  the  Original 

July  the  20^  1747  AND?  JOHNSTON. 


MIDDLESEX  Ss  SARAH  MARTIN  of  the  Township  of 
Wooodbridge,  in  the  County  of  Middlx,  Widow  of 
full  Age  Maketh  Oath  That  on  Friday  the  17th  of  this 
Instant  July  abo1  9  of  the  Clock  in  the  Morning  a  great 
Number  of  People  to  the  Number  of  70  or  80  as  this 
Dep?  bel?  &  was  informed,  came  to  this  Depon"  House 
a  Tavern  in  Woodbridge  afd,  amongst  which  Company 
were  Simon  Wicoff,  Tho?  Clawson,  Hendrick  Hoagland, 
&  many  others  to  this  Depon1  unknown  But  she  bel* 
to  be  some  of  the  Persons  called  the  Rioters,  That  they 
Waited  at  this  Dep"  House  &  thereabouts  near  two 
Hours  (as  this  Dep*  understood)  for  sev!  more  of  their 
Gang  coming  up.  And  this  Dep'  further  Saith  That 
some  of  the  sd  Rioters  sayd  they  were  going  to  Amboy 
to  take  a  Man  out  of  Goal;  That  about  11  a  Clock  they 
went  a  Way  towards  Amboy— And  this  Dep'  further 
Saith  that  abo-  4  or  5  a  Clock  in  the  Afternoon  of  the 
sd  Day  the  sd  Rioters  Much  abo'  the  afd  Number  re- 
turned to  her  House,  and  that  Simon  Wicoff,  Tho* 
Clawson  &  Hendrick  Hoagland  were  then  in  the  sd 
Company;  And  this  Dep*  further  Says  that  she  heard 
some  of  the  Rioters  say  that  they  had  taken  one  John 
Bainbridge  out  of  Goal  &  had  sent  him  over  the  Ferry 
Home,  And  if  there  had  beenaHundd  Committed  they 
wo*  taken  them  out  as  fast  as  they  shod  be  put  in,  for 


470         ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  BEADING.    [1747 

they  did  not  go  abo*  such  an  Affair,  but  what  they 
co(!  do  it,  or  Words  to  that  Effect;  And  this  Dep*  fur- 
ther Saith  that  she  heard  some  of  the  s'?  Rioters  (to  this 
Dep-  unknown)  declare  that  if  they  had  met  with  any 
Resistance  in  Amboy,  or  if  they  (Meaning  as  this  Dep' 
bels  the  Authority)  had  fired  upon  them,  the  sc?  Riot- 
ers or  hurt  any  of  them  There  sho^  not  have  been  a 
Man  left  alive,  or  a  House  Standing  in  the  s'J  City  of 
Perth  Amboy,  but  they  the  sc-  Rioters  if  they.co'?  have 
done  nothing  else  wo1!  have  drove  them  into  the  River, 
And  this  Dep*  further  says  that  she  heard  some  of 
the  s(!  Rioters  Say  that  they  had  built  a  Goal  back  in 
the  Woods  &  that  they  wo(?  take  M"  John  Coxe  &  M' 
Sam!  Nevill  &  put  them  into  the  s^  Goal  &  then  See 
who  durst  fetch  them  out,  or  Words  to  this  Effect 
And  this  Dep*  farther  Says  that  she  understood  by  the 
s{?  Rioters  Expressions  that  they  had  Way  laid  Mr 
Coxe  in  Order  to  Catch  him,  And  that  they  threatned 
to  do  the  s(!  M''  Coxe  a  Mischief  &  pull  his  House  down 
to  the  Ground,  And  this  Dep*  further  Saith,  that 
Simon  Wicoff  sayd  to  this  Dep*  you  knew  of  our  com- 
ing why  did  you  not  get  Beer,  I  recommended  them 
to  your  House,  And  this  Dep*  replyed  I  did  not  expect 
to  see  you  here,  but  I  sho^  not  have  got  Beer  the 
Sooner  upon  this  Account,  or  Words  to  that  Effect; 
And  this  Dep*  further  Sayth  that  the  s^  Rioters  re- 
joiced &  greatly  triumphed  in  what  they  had  done 
And  further  this  Dep*  Saith  not 

her 

SARAH    V   MARTIN. 

mark. 

Sworn  this  20th  day  of  July 
1747  before  me    Samuel  Nevill. 

I  have  examined  the    proceeding  Copy   with  the 
Origi!  Affidt  now  in  my  Hands  &  find  them  to  agree 
July  201!'  1747. 

SAMP  NEVILL. 


1747]    ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  BEADING.         471 


Letter  from   Chief  Justice  Robert  Hunter  Morris  to 
James  Alexander — about  New  Jersey  Affairs. 

I  From  Original  among  James  Alexander's  Papers  in  Rutherfurd  Collection. 
Volume  1.  No.  8.] 

Trenton  July  28th  1747 
Dear  Sir 

*  *  *  *  On  Tuesday  last  I  left  home  in  order  to 
attend  the  President  in  Council  the  next  day  at  Amboy 
and  we  accordingly  met  on  the  Wednesday  afternoon, 
sundry  affidavits  were  laid  before  us  relating  to  the 
Riot  at  Amboy,  and  the  insolent  behaviour  of  the 
mobb  on  that  Occasion,  of  which  I  would  send  you 
coppys  if  I  had  time,  upon  them  the  councill  advised 
the  calling  the  Assembly  as  soon  as  possible,  and  ap- 
proved the  form  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  to  Each 
Member  in  which  the  disturbances  of  the  Province 
occasioned  by  the  many  Riots  and  particularly  the 
last  at  Amboy  are  mention'd  as  the  principal  cause  of 
their  being  call'd  together  at  this  time,  that  they  may 
have  no  pretence  for  not  doing  their  duty— The  time 
of  meeting  is  on  the  3d  tuesday  of  August  and  I  hope 
we  shall  have  your  company.— 

I  must  own  to  you  that  I  have  no  great  expectations 
of  their  doing  any  thing  Effectually  to  stop  so  danger- 
ous an  evill,  but  nevertheless  think  it  Right  to  push 
the  Matter  as  home  to  them  as  we  can,  not  only  in 
the  speech,  but  by  Bills  and  messages  from  the  Coun- 
cill, and  I  think  we  should  be  ready  early  in  the  ses- 
sion that  they  may  have  no  time  to  contrive  ineffec- 
tuall  measures  that  will  have  no  other  effect  than  to 
screen  them  from  the  guilt  of  suffering  these  things 
so  long  to  pass  with  impunity,  but  will  not  answer 
either  to  stop  the  present  or  prevent  the  like  disturb- 
ances for  the  future 

The  council  agreed  to  make  a  representation  to  his 
majesty  of  the  state  of  the  provinces,  and  for  the 


472         ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.     [1747 

Drawing  up  what  is  proper  on  that  Occasion  they  have 
appointed  you  Mr  Coxe  and  Myself,  I  proposed  a  letter 
from  the  President  and  Council  to  the  D  of  Newcastle, 
to  be  immediately  drawn  up,  the  gentlemen  were  in 
too  much  haste  to  return  to  their  homes  to  come  into 
any  such  step,  and  so  it  was  not  agreed  to 

The  Court  of  Pleas  and  Quarter  Session  sat  the  last 
week  at  Amboy  for  the  County  of  Middlesex  and 
Nevill  labour'd  hard  in  his  charge,  and  otherwise,  to 
have  some  of  the  Rioters  indicted  for  high  treason, 
but  he  had  a  grand  Jury  that  would  hardly  indict 
them  for  a  Riot;  I  told  him  I  thought  him  wrong  to 
press  that  matter  without  first  advising  upon  it,  espe- 
cially as  the  Supream  Court  was  near;  he  said  he  had 
W.  Kearnys  Advice  for  what  he  did,  and  seem'd  very 
fond  of  pushing  the  thing,  and  of  having  the  witnesses 
examin'd  by  the  grand  Jury  in  open  court;  but  that  I 
prevented. 

As  this  Insurrection  has  happen'd  in  the  County 
where  the  next  term  is  to  be  held,  it  will  be  incumbent 
on  me  to  recomend  it  in  the  Strongest  terms  to  the  grand 
Jury,  and  as  I  conceive  it  to  be  an  overt  act  of  Trea- 
son I  don't  see  how  I  can  avoid  mentioning  it  as  such; 
and  on  this  head  I  must  beg  your  thoughts  and  assist- 
ance and  for  that  end  hope  to  see  you  at  Amboy  on  the 
day  before  the  Court  that  we  may  agree  upon  what 
will  be  proper  to  be  said  to  the  grand  Jury.  And  here 
I  would  Observe  that  it  can  have,  no  ill  Effects  upon 
the  honest  part  of  the  Province  to  have  a  Bill  of  high 
Treason  found  against  some  of  these  Common  disturb- 
ers, but  it  may  answer  some  good  purpose,  either  by 
inducing  the  Assembly  to  come  into  speedy  and  effec- 
tuall  measures,  or  if  they  refuse,  by  alarming  the  gov- 
ernment at  Home  and  making  them  think  of  taking 
notice  of,  and  punishing  in  the  Bud,  an  evill  that  let 
alone  will  wrest  their  Plantations  out  of  their  Hauds, 
—but  of  this  when  we  meet. 

You  Observe  well  that  our  greatest  safety  consists  in 


1747J    ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.         473 

our  strength  in  councill,  and  in  order  to  preserve  it  we 
must  take  care  to  hang  as  much  as  possible  together 
and  give  no  Just  grounds  for  suspentions. — we  have 
no  reason  to  expect  any  considerable  number  in  the 
other  house,  at  present,  whatever  we  may  do  on  a  new 
choice,  our  chief  dependance  then  must  be  on  the 
Middlesex  Members  and  one  or  two  more  that  they 
can  Influence,  who  by  keeping  themselves  together 
without  Joyning  either  with  the  Quakers,  or  those  in 
the  opposition  may  have  it  in  their  power  to  throw  the 
Ballance  on  which  side  they  think  best,  and  will  con- 
sequently be  counted  by  both,  and  may  challenge 
better  terms. — That  there  will  be  an  opposition  upon 
the  Arrivall  of  the  new  Governor,  I  make  not  the 
least  doubt  from  the  knowledge  I  have  of  the  temper 
and  disposition  of  some  of  the  Members.  * 

Your  letter  to  the  Presid1 '  I  signed  and  delivered  at 
Amboy  upon  reading  it,  he  said  he  hoped  we  would 
continue  to  assist  him  as  we  had  done  Mr  Hamilton, 
I  told  him  Mr  Hamiltons  inability  rendered  it  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  somebody  should  carry  on  a  cor- 
respondence with  the  offices  at  home,  but  the  case  was 
now  altered,  However  I  assured  him  that  neither  you 
nor  I  should  be  wanting  in  affording  him  all  the  assist- 
ance in  our  power  upon  every  Occasion.— 

When  it  was  concluded  to  call  the  Assembly  and  to 
press  upon  them  this  Matter  of  the  Riots.  The  Presid1 
Requested  that  Mr  Cox  yourself  &  I  should  prepare  a 
speech  for  him  against  their  Next  meeting  and  desired 
we  would  mention  it  to  you. 

Inclosed  I  send  you  a  letter  from  the  Presid*  to  the 
Lords  of  trade  which  you  will  please  to  read  and  for- 
ward. He  would  date  it  before  the  Riot  at  Amboy 
because  he  would  not  Mention  it  till  he  could  send 
home  the  Representation  proposed  to  be  made  at  the 
next  meeting. 

i  John  Reading  8iiec<M><HnK  Mr.  Hamilton,  a*  the  oldest  Councillor.— ED. 


474         ADMINISTRATION  OF  PRESIDENT  JOHN  READING.    [1747 

*  *  *  My  time  will  be  so  much  taken  up  before 
the  Court  in  preparing  what  is  proper  for  the  Grand 
Jury,  and  in  writing  some  letters  to  England  to  go  by 
a  Ship  from  Philadelphia,  that  I  shall  hardly  be  able 
to  apply  my  thoughts  to  the  Presid'8  Speech  and  must 
therefore  leave  that  matter  to  you. 

I  observe  in  Paris's  letter  of  the  10l.h  of  February  that 
he  says  Partridge  drew  up  and  presented  to  the  Board 
of  trade  aSpsciall  memorial  in  favour  of  paper  money. 
Partridge  has  mentioned  this  in  one  of  his  letters  to 
the  Late  Presid?  and  the  thing  is  talked  of  pretty  pub- 
lickly,  I  got  ....  speak  to  Eaton  upon  it  (who 
is  one  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence)  to  know 
if  any  orders  were  given  him  for  making  such  repre- 
sentation he  declared  there  was  not,  and  if  he  had 
taken  upon  him  to  ask  such  an  Instruction  as  would 
give  an  unlimited  lycence  for  passing  of  money  bills 
he  should  be  no  longer  their  Agent,  this,  and  the  rela- 
tion he  stands  in  to  the  govF '  will  go  nigh  to  throw  him 
from  that  trust,  and  if  it  should  I  think  we  may  easily 
put  it  into  Mr  Paris's  hands,  which  if  this  take  a  bad 
turn  will  be  of  great  use;  I  have  not  Appeared  in  this 
affair  nor  do  I  intend  it,  but  think  it  may  be  managed 
by  other  Hands,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  hint  this  to 
M'  Paris,  and  desire  him  to  send  a  coppy  of  that  spe- 
cial! Memoriall. 

*  *  I  am  glad  to  hear  the  gout  has  left  you  and 
hope  before  the  Court  you  will  be  able  to  walk  without 
either  crutch  or  cain. 

I  am  Dr  Sir  Your  Most 

FaithfuU  Humble  Serv* 


1  Richard  Partridge  was  brother-in-law  to  Governor  Belcher.— ED. 


INDEX 


INDEX. 


Alexander:  James,  281,  294,  814-817,  829, 
830,  860,  897.— Difficulties  with  Gov. 
Cosby  and  President  Clarke,  of  New 
York,  71.—  Irregular  in  his  attendance 
upon  the  Council,  107.— A  member 
for  East  Jersey,  109.— On  North  Par- 
tition point,  145.— Letters  from,  and 
R.  H.  Morris,  about  the  affairs  of 
the  Province,  419,  440.— Letter  to. 
from  R.  H.  Morris,  about  affairs  of 
the  Province,  471. 

Allen:  John,  Recommended  for  the 
Council  of  West  Jersey,  110. 

Anderson:  Abraham,  416. 

Anderson:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  45>r>. 

Ant  ill:  Edward,  Recommended  for  the 
Council  of  East  Jersey,  110.— Auto- 
graph of,  238.— Referred  to,  387. 

Arents:  Jacob,  808,  809. 

Ashfleld:  Richard,  318.—  Recommended 
for  the  Council  of  East  Jersey,  110.— 
Acting  as  such,  139. 


Assembly  of  New  Jersey:  Thank  the 
King  for  giving  them  a  Governor 
separate  from  New  York,  58.—  Differ- 
ences between,  and  the  Council,  62, 
65.— Settled  a  support  for  three  years 
on  Qov.  Morris.  68.— On  appropria- 
tion for  troops.  101. — Representation 
of,  about  manufacture  of  iron,  140.— 
Two  acts  submitted  for  the  opinion 
of  Francis  Fane.  150.— To  Gov.  Mor- 
ris, relative  to  the  Militia,  &c.,  181, 
189.— Dissolved  by  Qov.  Morris,  190.— 
Proceedings  relative  to  acts  regula- 
ting fees,  239.—  Minutes  of  October  3- 
18,  1745.  S4«.— On  riots,  250.— Message 
to,  from  the  Governor,  251.— Rights 
of.  321.— Petition  to,  from  rioters. 
3 W.—  Extract  from  address  of  Gov- 
ernor to,  404.—  Address  of,  to  Gover- 
nor, 405.— President  Hamilton's  ad- 
dress to,  436.— Message  from,  to 
President  Hamilton,  488. 


Balnbridge:  John,  One  of  the  rioters. 
;Cl.—  Rescued,  460-469. 

Bainbridge:  Edinoiid,  Oue  of  the  rioters, 
455,465. 

Baker:  John,  208.— One  of  the  rioters,  301. 

Baldwin:  Amos,  One  of  the  rioters.  351. 

Baldwin:  ( 'aleb.  One  of  the  rioters,  851. 

Baldwin:  David,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Baldwin:  Nathan,  One  of  the  rioters,  851. 

Baldwin :  Nehemiah,  One  of  the  rioters, 
8 

Baldwin:  Samuel,  346,  850,  861,  807. 

Ball:  Aaron.  One  of  the  rioters,  3M. 

Ball:  Ezekiel,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Ball:  Nathaniel.  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Ball:  Timothy,  One  of  the  rioters.  351. 

Balsey:  Robert.  109. 

Bayacd:  John,  144. 

Baylies:  John,  207. 

Baynton:  Peter,  Named  for  the  Council, 
107,  li)9.-Died.  287. 

Beacon:  On  Navesink  Highlands,  de- 
stroyed 878,  879. 

Beaxlev:  Michael.  Affidavit  of,  relative  to 
-  ...  . 

Belcher:  Jonathan.  Ap]>ointed  Governor, 
80S,  484.— Petition  to  the  King  about 
•alary,  443.— Autograph,  445.— Peti- 


tion for  leave  of  absence,  449.— An- 
swer to  foregoing  petition.  -15.'). 

Benyiiick:  Thomas,  207. 

Bergen:  Riot  in.  u:> 

Hills  ..1  civdit:  t>.',  111-110,  122,131,228. 
•.'•-'•..  200.  363.  Sfil. 

Bodiue:  George,  Among  the  rioters,  456. 

Bonnel:  Joshua,  Vote  on  Militia  Act,  202. 

Bounell:  Joseph,  Speaker  of  House  of 
Assembly,  59. 

Braiuard :  Rev.  Mr.,  406. 

Brief  Vindication  of  the  Purchasers. 
against  the  Proprietors,  in  a  Chris- 
tian manner,  260. 

Bristed  [Breested]:  William,  42!t.  i::i. 

Brown,  Jr.:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Brown:  Moses,  One  of  the  rioters,  851. 

Brown:  Zebedee,  Oue  of  the  rioters,  35i. 

Bunbridge,  Jr.:  John,  One  of  the  rioters. 
455. 

Burlington:  260;  Gov.  Morris  publishes 
his  commission  at,  .">7.— Described. 
jjf.— Old  papers  found  at  130.— Gov. 
Morris  taken  sick  at,  257. 

Buniet:  Gov.  William,  71. 

Burwell  I  Burn-Ill:  Theonhilus,  One  of 
the  rioters,  351,  456,  465,  467. 


478 


INDEX. 


C. 


Camfleld:  Ephraim,  One  of  the  rioters, 
331. 

Camp:  Nathaniel,  3«5,  350,  801,  3C7,  896.— 
Letter  to,  from  Elisha  Parker,  392. 

Carkesss:  Charles,  Secretary  to  the 
Commissioners  of  the  Customs,  400. 

Carteret:  Gov.  Philip,  209. 

(Thapman:  John,  147. 

Chew :  Samuel,  of  Pennsylvania,  excom- 
municated by  the  Quakers,  173. 

Cheeseman:  William,  Affidavit  respect- 
ing riot  at  Perth  Amboy,  405. 

Clarke:  George,  of  New  York,  comment- 
ed on,  05,  73,  70,  78,  218. 

Clawson:  Thomas,  417.— One  of  the  riot- 
ers, 4~>5,  409. 

Clinton:  Gov.  George,  of  New  York,  on 
parUtion  line,  10,'.— Alluded  to,  218, 
80S,  3rO,  372,  377.— Letter  to,  from 
Capt.  Joseph  Espinoza,  380.— Letter 
from,  to  Col.  Schuyler,  about  troops, 
441,  448.  -Autograph  of,  442.— Letter 
from,  to  Duke  of  Newcastle,  about 
troops,  451. 

Collinson:  Peter,  Correspondent  of 
James  Alexander,  71,  77. 

Colony:  Annual  produce  of  each,  87. 

Commissions:  To  Gov.  Lewis  Morris,  2. — 
Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Lewis  John- 
son and  Elisha  Parker,  352. 

Condit  rCondict.  Coneditt]:  John,  294, 
316,  340,  350,  301,  307. 

Condict:  Jotham,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Cook:  Michael,  3«3,  350,  301,  367. 

Cook:  William,  Vote  on  Militia  Act.  292. 


Cooper:  Daniel,  426. 

Cooper:  Joseph,  Vote  on  Militia  Act,  292. 

Cornelison:  Garret,  One  of  the  rioters, 
456. 

Cosby:  William,  Governor,  comments 
on,  66,  71. 

Council  of  New  Jersey:  Thank  the  King 
for  giving  them  a  "Governor  separate 
from  New  York,  59.— Differences  be- 
tween, and  the  Assembly,  02,  C5.— 
Four  members  suspended,  105. 106.— 
Reasons  lor  rejecting  several  acts, 
219.— Recommendations  for,  232. — 
Oaths  administered  to  President 
Hamilton,  367.— About  expedition 
against  the  Indians,  309-371.— About 
embarkation  of  troops,  370.— Extract 
from  message  of  the  Governor  rela- 
ting to  riots,  414.— Proceedings  rela- 
tive to  troops,  424,  435. 

Coxe:  Daniel,  One  of  Gov.  Morris's  pall 
bearers,  308. 

Coxe:  John,  Acts  as  one  of  the  Council, 
139.— Recommended  for  the  Council, 
233.— Referred  to,  467,  470,  472, 

Cranberry ;  Indians  living  near,  400. 

Craine:  Azariah.  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Crane:  Gamaliel,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 

Crane:  Job,  One  of  the  rioters,  215. 

Crane,  Jr. :  Daniel,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Crane:  William,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 

Cross:  John,  Presbyterian  minister,  429, 
432. 

Crowell:  Samuel,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 

Gun-entry:  Questions  of,  considered,  51, 
02,  78,  82,  91,  111,  132, 134. 


D 


Dagworthy:  Capt.  John,  Number  of  men    Deare:  William,  Affidavit  about  riot  at 

in  his  company,  425.  Perth  Amboy,  467. 

Dalrimple:  Joseph,  427.  iDehart:    Cornelius,  One  of  the  rioters, 

Davis,  Jr. :  Jonathan,  One  of  the  rioters,          458,  405. 


351. 

Davis:  Solomon,  165. 
Davis:  Nathaniel,  Called  Captain  of  the 

rioters,  431,  432. 

Day:  Amos,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 
Day:  Thomas,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 


DeKey:  Thomas,  149. 

DeLancy:  James,  149.  169. 

Demarest:  David,  Vote  on  Militia  Act, 

203. 

Denton:  Daniel,  237. 
Denton;  Nathan,  207. 


Day,  Jr.:  Thomas,  One  of  the  rioters,  351 .   Dewitt:  Barent,  One  of  the  rioters,  455, 
Day:  Paul,  One  of  the  rioters,  351.  465. 

Deare:  John,  Letter  from,  to  Chief  Jus-   Dinwiddie:  Robert,  On  the  trade  of  the 

British  Empire,  83. 


tice  Morris,  about  riot  at  Perth  Am- 


boy, 403.— High  Sheriff  of  Middlesex, 


Dockwra:  William,  428,  431. 
Dod:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 
'Dunster:  Dan.  Donaldson,  Acting  as  one 
of  the  Council,  139. 


Easom:  John,  Affidavit  respecting  Sloop 

St.  Megill,  390. 
Eaton:  John,  Vote  on  Militia  Act,  202.— 

Prepares  a  draft  of  a  message  to  the 

Governor,  246. 
Elizabethtown:  Inhabitants  of,  petition 


to  Council  about  their  controversies 
with  the  Proprietors,  205. 

Espino/a:  Capt.  Joseph,  Complains  of 
•  Imprisonment,  &c.,  380-388. 

Everson:  Nicholas,  Affidavit  of,  respect- 
ing riot  in  Perth  Amboy,  465. 


F. 


Farmar:  Thomas,  Votes  on  Militia  Act, 

202,  203. 
Farrand:  Ebenezer,  One  of  the  rioters, 

245. 

Fees:  Acts  relating  to,  238. 
Fitz Randolph:  Richard,  Affidavit  about 

riot  at  Perth  Amboy,  466 


Flags:  borne  by  ships  having  private 
commissions,  128. 

Foster:  John,  207. 

Fraser:  William,  Collector  of  Customs 
at  Salem,  98. 

French:  Philip,  One  of  Gov.  Morris's  pall- 
bearers, 363. 


IN'DEX. 


479 


li 


Gage:  Thomas,  Affidavit  respecting  riot   Garner:  Joseph,  One  of  the  rioters,  861. 
at  Perth  Amboy,  468.  Glass  Manufacture:  In  New  Jersey,  88. 

Gardner:  Thomas.  One  of  the  rioters.  245.   Grants:  Early,  referred  to.  887. 


II 


Hamilton :  John,  Speaker  of  the  Council, 
60.— Differences  with  GOT.  Morris 
about  salary,  G9.  —One  of  the  Council 
from  East  Jersey.  109.— Autograph, 
146.— On  Gov.  Morris'  claim  for  a 
special  salary,  151.— Letters  to,  from 
Lords  of  Trade,  respecting  Gov.  Mor- 
ris1 salary,  158, 172.— Instructions  of, 
to  John  Lawrence,  about  limning  the 
partition  line,  151.— Commission  to, 
on  East  ar.d  West  Jersey  line,  352.— 
Sworn  into  office  as  successor  to  Gov. 
Morris.  8'J8.— Notifies  Council  of  New 
York  of  destruction  of  beacon  on 
Highlands  of  Neversiuk,  879.— Re- 
ferred to,  414,  410.— Address  to  As- 
sembly relative  to  the  troops,  &c., 
486.— Answer  of  Assembly  to  fore- 
going, 43'J. — Letter  to  Colonel  Schuy- 
ler,  447.— His  death  announced  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade,  -102. 

Hampton:  James,  471. 

Hancock:  William,  Vote  on  Militia  bill, 
20,'. 

Harison:  John,  147.— One  of  the  rioters, 
S51. 

Harrison:  Amos.  One  of  the  rioters,  851. 

Harrison:  Daniel.  140.  402. 


> Harrison:  John,  Commissioned    to   run 

partition  line,  852. 
Harison:  John,  147.— One  of  the  rioters, 

an. 

Harrison:  Samuel,  340,  850, 2C1.  867. 

Hart:  Edward,  Raiding  trooos  for  Cana- 
da expedition,  371.872.— Cannot  long- 
er support  them  Himself,  878. 

Hartshorne :  Robert,  In  charge  of  beacon 
on  Neverslnk  Highlands,  374. 

liegemen.  Jr.:  Boilings,  One  of  the  riot- 
ers. 455,  4U5. 

Hoghtelen:  Johannes,  1C7. 

Hogelandt:  Henry,  One  of  the  rioters, 
45G,  465.  4GO. 

Home:  Archibald,  Recommended  for 
the  Council,  100.— Appointed,  127.— 
Dies,  237, 

Hood:  Clawson,  417. 

Hooper:  Robert  Lettice,  100, 197. 

Hopper:  George  IBodine],  One  of  the 
rioters,  466,  485. 

Hopper;  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  465. 

Hude:  James,  Recommended  for  the 
Council,  281.— Autograph,  283,  287.- 
Pall-bearer  to  Gov.  Morris,  868. 

Hude:  Robert,  Affidavit  of,  respecting 
riot  at  Perth  Amboy,  465. 

Hunter:  Gov.  Robert.  71. 


Ike:  Philip,  One  of  the  rioters,  465.  To  the  Governors  of  Plantations,  rela 

Indians:  Near  Cranberry,  406.  tive  to  foreign  coins,  94. 

Indian  Grants:  Referred"  to,  339,  341.  In.i.:    Manufacture   of.    Representation 

Instructions:  To  Gov.  Lewis  Morris.  18.—  '        respecting,  140. 


Jacobus:  Hendrick,  One  of  the  rioters, 
Mk 

.larratt:  Allane,  Surveyor  of  New  York, 
140,  170. 

Jenkins:  Griffin.  Author  of  a  Brief  Vin- 
dication. Ac.,  2KH.  207,  311,  830. 

Jeffries  [Jefferies]:  Edward,  415. 

Jeffries  (Jeffersl:  John.  One  of  the  riot- 
ers, 465,  465. 

Johnson:  Major.  40-.V 


Johnson:  Cornelius,  One  of  the  rioters. 
455,465. 

Johnston :   Andrew.  Succeeds  Archibald 
Home  in  the  Council,  128.— Speaker 
of  the  Assembly,  autograph.  1  r,'. 
lust  mot  ions  to  John  Lawrence.about 
running  the  partition  line  between 
East  and  West  Jersey,  154.— Recom- 
mended for  the  Conucil.  2ti,  i'37. 
Autograph.  233. — Pall -bearer  to  GOT. 
Morris.  888.— Referred  to,  473 


Kearny:  Philip,  Pall-bearer  to  Gov.  Mor- 
ris, 80S. 
Keith:  George.  165,  160. 


Kelly:  Andrew.  Affidavit  about  riot  at 

Perth  Amboy,  408. 
Kemble:    Peter,  Recommended  for  the 

Council,  £88,  888. 
Kent:  Ely,  One  of  the  rioters,  861. 


480 


INDEX. 


Lamson :  Eleazar,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 
Lamson:  Thomas,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 
Lawrence:  John,  Instructions  to,  about 

running  the  partition  line  between 

East  and  West  Jersey,  154. 
Lawrence:  Joseph,  One  of  the  rioters, 

345. 
Lawrence:  Robert,  Vote  on  Militia  Act, 

202. 
Learning:  Aaron,  Votes  on  Militia  Act, 

202,  203. 

Leonard:  Capt.  Henry,  One  of  the  riot- 
ers, 425. 
Leonard:  Nathaniel,  In  charge  of  beacon 

In  Neversink  Highlands,  374. 
Leonard:  Samuel,  Acting  as  one  of  the 

Council,  139.— Votes  on  Militia  Act, 

202,  203. 
Leonard:    Thomas,   Recommended    for 

the  Council,  233,  288.— Pall-bearer  of 

Gov.  Morris,  368. 


Line:  Partition,  Between  New  York  and 
New  Jersey.  188, 144.— North  partition 
point  in,  145.— Instructions  to  John 
Lawrence  respecting  line  between 
East  and  West  Jersey,  154. -Report 
of  Chief  Justice  Morris  respecting, 
168. — Memorial  of  Proprietors  for 
running  East  and  West  Jersey  line 
ex  part e,  216. — Between  East  and 
West  Jersey,  852. 

Lindsley:  Ebenezer,  One  of  the  rioters, 
•351. 

Lindsley:  Josiah,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Little:  John,  373. 

Low:  John.  294,  316,  267,  408. 

Lyell:  David,  On  East  and  West  Jersey 
line,  352. 

Lyell:  Fen  wick,  Member  of  the  Council 
for  East  Jersey,  109.— Dies,  237. 

Lyndsley :  Elisha,  One  of  the  rioters,  351. 

Lyon:  Isaac,  402. 


M. 


Martin:  Sarah,  Affidavit  of,  respecting 
riot  at  Perth  Amboy,  469. 

Matthews:  Capt.  Vincent,  166. 

McEvers:  John,  169,  170. 171. 

McConnell:  Thomas.  430. 

Miaker  | Meeker]:  Timothy,  One  of  the 
rioters,  307. 

Mickle:  John,  Vote  on  Militia  Act,  202. 

Middlesex  County:  Rioters  in,  455.— 
Grand  Jury  of,  charged  by  Judge 
Nevill,  456. 

Miller:  Thomas,  429,  430. 

Militia:  Different  condition  of,  in  East 
and  West  Jersey,  105. — Gov.  Morris 
on,  178,  179,  183,  198,  227,  265.— Ab- 
stract of  bill  settling:  the,  191,  407.— 
Comments  of  Assembly  on,  249. 

Minisink  Island:  163.  165,  lYO. 

Monmouth:  Watches  on  coast  of.  373. 
— Beacon  destroyed,  378. 

Montgomerie:  Gov.  John,  71. 

Morris:  Lewis,  Commissioned  as  Gover- 
nor, 1,  2.— Instructions  to,  18.— Pub- 
lishes his  commission,  56,  57. — Auto- 
graph, 57.— Letter  from,  to  Sir 
Charles  Wager,  60. — Comments  on 
the  people  and  the  Legislature,  61.— 
Assembly  grant  him  a  support  for 
three  years,  68.— Differences  with 
John  Hamilton  about  salary,  69. — On 
the  raising  of  troops  in  New  Jersey, 
99. 101, 102.— Proclamation  about  cur- 


rency of  foreign  coins,  117. — On  New 
Jersey  affairs.  130.— Petition  to,  about 
the  partition  line,  138, 139, 144.— Claim 
of,  for  special  salary,  151,  172.— To 
Gov.  Clinton,  of  New  York,  about 
partition  line,  162.— Speeches  to  the 
Legislature,  178.— Dissolves  the  As- 
sembly, 190.— Observations  on  Militia 
Act,  198.— Petition  to,  from  the  East 
Jersey  Proprietors,  to  run  the  parti- 
tion fine  ex  parte,  216.—  Representa- 
tion to,  from  the  Council,  with  rea- 
sons for  repealing  several  acts,  219.— 
Certificate  of,  relative  to  the  surren- 
der of  the  Proprietors,  234.— Message 
to,  from  General  Assembly.  246.— 
Message  to  the  Assembly.  251  .—Taken 
sick  in  Burlington,  257.— Referred  to. 
363.— Dies,  368.  414. 

Morris,  Jr.:  Lewis,  169. 

Morris:  Robert  Hunter.  Chief  Justice. 
286.— Report  to  the  Proprietors  about 
northern  boundary,  168.  —Referred 
to,  294,  315-317,  329,  333,  359,  360.- 
Commission  to  run  line  between  East 
and  West  Jersey,  352.— Letter  to 
James  Alexander  about  New  Jersey 
affairs,  421.— Dies  (1764),  324. 

iMott:  Gershom,  154. 

IMott:  William,  Vote  on  Militia  act.  202. 

I  Murray:  Joseph.  393,  306. 


N. 


Nevill:  Samuel,  Judge,  Acting  as  one  of 
the  Council,  139.— Autograph,  323.— 
Votes  on  Militia  Act,  202, 203.— Speech 
in  Assembly  in  answer  to  the  rioters' 
petitions.  3-^3.  -Referred  to,  409,  417, 
168-170,  472.— Charge  to  Grand  Jurv, 
456. 

Nevill:  Thomas,  Affidavit  respecting 
riots  at  Perth  Amboy,  465. 


Neversink:  Beacon  in  the  Highlands  of, 

373. 
Newark:  Riots  in,  251,  •-'92,  297,  321,  386. 


New  Jersey:  Trade  of,   135.— Population 


Nichols:  Gov.  Richard,  208. 


O. 

Ogden:  David,  293,  294,  314,  315,  328,  334,  lOgden:  John.  208 

346,  349,  359, 393,  895,  396,  412.— Trans-   Ogden :  Samuel,  One  of  the  rioters.  351. 
mits  affidavits  relative  to  riots,  426.—  ' 
Autograph.  427. 


INDEX. 


481 


Pacheco:  Rodrigo,  Correspondent  of 
James  Alexander,  77.  -  Memorial  of, 
to  the  Lords  of  Trade  about  purchas- 
ing lands  from  Indians.  1 1.>. 

Paper  Money:  51.  62.  111. 

Paris:  Ferdinand  John,  Letter  from,  to 
James  Alexander,  422.—  Notice  of, and 
autograph.  484.— Referred  to.  474. 

Parker:  Elisha,  856.  881.— Commissioned 
to  run  line  between  East  and  West 
Jersey,  868.— Letter  to,  from  Com- 
mittee of  Rioters,  392.— Affidavit  of, 
relative  to  proceedings  of  rioters, 
895.— Autograph,  397.— Notice  of,  897. 
—Referred  to,  418. 

Parker:  Capt.  James,  Number  of  men  in 
his  company,  425. 

Parker:  James.  Publisher  of  The  New 
American  Magazine,  324. 

Parkens:  Samuel,  One  of  the  rioters,  857. 

Partridge:  Richard.  On  the  paper  cur- 
rency of  America,  91.  — Memorial  of, 
to  Lords  of  Trade,  about  purchasing 
lands  from  Indians,  142.— Order  of 
Council  upon  petition  of,  relative  to 
bills  of  credit,  361.— Petition  of,  362. 
—Autograph.  365.  -Petition  of,  about 
bills  of  credit,  488.— Referred  to,  474. 


Pearson:  Isaac.  Vote  on  Militia  Act.  202. 

Pennsylvania:  Excommunication  of  a 
Quaker  Chief  Justice.  178. 

Penn:  William,  281,  299. 

Perth  Amboy:  Oov.  Morris  publishes  his 
commission  at,  67.— A  poor,  incon- 
siderable place,  108  —Alluded  to,  130, 
131,  166,  2(50,  261.— Riot  at.  4«8.— Affi- 
davits relating  to  riots  at,  465. 

Perry:  Benjamin,  One  of  the  rioters,  851. 

Pierce:  Capt.  Vincent.  Son-in-law  of  Qov. 
Morris,  60. 

Pierson:  Joseph,  One  of  the  rioters.  245. 

Pierson  [Person!:  Jonathan,  3JG,  350.  861. 
867. 

Pierson:  Benjamin,  One  of  the  rioters, 
851. 

Population :  Of  the  different  colonies,  89. 
—Of  New  Jersey,  242. 

Price:  Samuel,  One  of  the  rioters.  455. 

Proprietors  of  East  Jersey:  Publication 
of,  respecting  the  riots,  297.— Answer 
of,  to  a  petition  of  rioters,  853.— No- 
tice to,  from  C'ommittee  of  Rioters, 
365. 

Provoost: ,  Discharged  from  the 

Council.  202. 


Q- 

Quakers:  Opposed  to  the  Council,  66.—  I         West  Jersey,  104. 
Render  it  difficult  to  raise  troops  in  | 


Read:  Charles.  Pall-bearer  to  Oov.  Mor- 
ris, 368. 

Reading:  John,  Member  of  the  Council 
from  West  Jersey,  109.— Speaker  of 
Council,  autograph.  148,  463.— Letter 
to  the  Lords  of  Trade  on  death  of 
President  Hamilton,  462. 

Redford:  Major  John,  of  Monmouth.  378. 

Rickie  (Richie):  Israel,  One  of  the  riot- 
en,  465. 

Rickie  [Richie] :  John,  One  of  the  rioters, 
1'". 

Riot  at  Perth  Amboy:  468,  465. 

Riot*  at  Newark:  961. 297.— State  of  facts 
respecting,  307. 

Rioters:  List  of,  in  Essex  County,  845.— 
Committee  from,  989.— Petition  from. 


to  House  of  Assembly.  848.—  Answer 
of  Proprietors  to,  858.—  Letter  to. 
from  East  Jersey  Proprietors.  392.— 
Their  publication  in  New  York  Post- 
boy, 404. — Affidavits  respecting,  427.-  - 
In  Somerset  and  Middlesex  Counties, 
4.V>. 

Kiski.-s:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  465. 

Rit^er:  Abraham.  One  of  the  rioters.  245. 

Roberts:  Amos,  One  of  the  rioters,  351 , 
408,  404.  455,  465. 

Rodman:  John,  A  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil from  West  Jersey.  100. 

Rutherfurd:  John,  8D7 

Kutherfurd:  Walter,  897. 

Ryerson:  Martin,  154, 158. 


Salem:  Manufacture  of  glass  at,  96. 

Baltar:  Richard,  In  charge  of  beacon  on 
Neversink  Highlands.  374. 

Sargeant:  Thomas,  One  of  the  rioters, 
*45,  401. 

Schuyler:  John,  Discharged  from  the 
Council  at  his  own  request,  105,  237. 

Schuyler:  Peter,  Appointed  Colonel  of 
forces  in  Canada,  878.— Number  of 
men  in  his  company,  424.—  Letter  to, 
from  Gov.  Clinton,  441.— Letter  to. 
from  President  Hamilton,  447.— Re- 
ferred to,  451. 

Schermerhorn  [Skermerhorne] :  John. 
One  of  the  rioter*.  455, 46S. 

32 


Scovenoven:  Isaac,  167. 

Shinn:  Thomas.  Vote  on  Militia  Act,  208. 

Shipman:  Jacob,  One  of  the  rioters,  455, 
MB. 

Shirley:  Governor.  868. 

Slaves:  Number  of,  in  the  different  colo- 
nies, 90.— Bill  for  larger  duty  on,  re- 
jected by  the  Council,  222. 

Smith:  James,  Affidavit  of,  respecting 
riot  at  Perth  Amboy,  465. 

Smith:  William,  169,888.806. 

Smith:  Richard,  A  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil from  West  Jersey,  109.— Vote  on 
Militia  Act,  809. 

Smyth:  Lawn-nee,  Clerk  of  East  Jersey 
Proprietors'  Council,  809. 


482 


INDEX. 


Sonmans:  Peter,  Wife  of,  823. 
Somerset  Jail:  Broken  open,  417. 
Somerset  County:  Rioters  ia,  455. 
Spicer:  Francis,  315. 

Squire:  Jonathan,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 
Stacy:  Mahlon,  Acting  as  one  of  the 

Council,  131). 
St.  Megill:  Sloop  captured,  8SO-392. 


Stelle:  John,  Affidavit  respecting  riot  at 

Perth  Amboy,  405. 
Stevens:    Capt.    Campble,    N  number  of 

men  in  his  company.  428. 
Stivers:  Samuel,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 
Surrender  of   the  Government  in  1702: 

235. 


T. 


Taylor,  Jr.:  David,  One  of  the  rioters, 


351. 

Thom'inson:    ('apt.     John, 
money  in  America.  111. 


On    paper 


Thompson:   James,  Affidavit   of,  about 
riot  at  Perth  Amboy.  405,  408. 


Timber:  Bill  for  the  preservation  of,  re- 

.  jected,  220. 

Tompkins:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 
Trenton:  Alluded  to,  201.  202. 
Troop:  Raising  of,  in  New  Jersey,  90,  419. 


V. 


Vanaken:  Abraham,  Petition  of,  about 

disturbances  on  northern  boundary. 

103,  107-108,  218. 
Van  Buskerk:  Lawrence,  Vote  on  Militia 

Act,  20J. 

Van  Dam:  Rip,  73,  74. 
Van  Gesiu:  Isaac,  2rJ3,  294,  311,  351. 
Van  Home:  Cornelius,  Discharged  from 

the  Council  at  his  own  request,  1015, 

237. 
Van  Middleswart:  John,  Vote  on  Militia 

Act,  202. 
Van  Veghten:    Dirick,    Vote  on  Militia 

Act,  202. 


Van  Winkle:  Abraham,  Ona  of  the  riot- 
ers, 4oG.  405. 

Van  Winkle:  Johannes,  One  of  the  riot- 
ers, 245. 

Vincent:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  345. 

Vincent,  Jr. :  Levi,  One  of  the  rioters,  2JG. 

Vincent:  Le  vines,  One  of  tlie  rioters,  351. 

"  Vindication  of  the  Purchasers  against 
the  Proprietors  in  a  Christian  man- 
ner," 200. 

Vessels:  Number  of,  trading  with  the 
Colonies,  SJ,  85. 

Vreeland:  George,  Vote  on  Militia  Act, 
202. 

Vreelandt:  Michael,  346,  307. 


Wager:  Sir  Charles,  Notice  of,  CO,  77. 
Wall:    Jarret,    Affidavit   about   riot   at 

Perth  Amboy,  407, 

Ward:  Abe  11,  One  of  the  rioters,  &51. 
Ward:  Caleb,  One  of  the  rioters,  331. 
War  1.  Robert,  One  of  the  rioters,  245. 
Ward:  EUsha,  One    of  the  rioters,  245. 
Ware:  Capt.  Thomas,  Number  of  men  in 

his  company,  425. 
WarreJl:  Joseph,  100. 
Watson:  Luke,  207. 
Westbrook:  Johannes,  1GG,  107. 
Westphale:    Inman,    Petition  of,    about 

disturbances  on  northern  boundary, 

103,  1G7.  108,  215. 
Wells:  John,  One  of  the  rioters,  301. 


Wheeler:  Nathaniel,  346,  350,  361,  367. 

Wileman:  Henry,  145. 

\\ills  i  Wells  |:  John.Discharged  from  the 
Council  at  his  own  request.  100, 237. 

Williams:  Joseph,  One  of  the  rioters,  3.">1. 

Williams:  Daniel,  One  of  the  rioters,  24.\ 

Williamson:  William,  One  of  the  rioters, 
2-15. 

Willocks:  George,  Connected  with  East 
and  \Vest  Jersey  line,  352. 

\Vjllocks:  John,  Vote  on  Militia  Act,  202. 

Wispar:  Caspar,  Interested  in  the  manu- 
facture of  gla?s  at  Salem,  18. 

Woodruff:  Joseph,  213. 

Wyckoff:  Simon  [Simeon  |,  One  of  the 
rioters,  455,  465,  469. 


Y. 
Young:  Robert,  One  of  the  rioters,245,401.-  Young:  Stephen,  One  of  the  rioters,  245 


F 

131 
D63 
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